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Astronaut Gene Cernan Reflects on Moon Walk during Earth Day Appearance in Buffalo

By Mark Scott

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-698602.mp3

Buffalo, NY – The last man to walk on the moon, retired Astronaut Eugene Cernan, spent Earth Day in Buffalo, where he talked to students about the importance of preserving the planet.

It was December 1972. As he climbed the stairs to re-enter the lunar module, Gene Cernan said he turned back around to see his footprints. "And there," he said, "was the Earth in all of its splendor and all of its beauty."

As the nation observed Earth Day Tuesday, Cernan said being able to view the Earth from the Moon left a lasting impression on him. He delivered that message to students at the Nichols School.

Cernan was invited by Delaware North Chairman Jeremy Jacobs as the Jacobs family made a $1 million donation to Nichols for construction of a new, environmentally-friendly academic building on the Amherst Street campus.

Afterward, Cernan talked about his remarkable career with WBFO News Director Mark Scott. Click the "listen" icon above to hear their conversation now or use your podcasting software to download it to your computer or iPod.