NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. \u2014 The Artemis launch marks NASA\u2019s first crewed mission to the moon in 54 years. The last trip, Apollo 17, all the way back in 1972. Today, those who lived through those events, as well as the first moon landing, are reflecting on the iconic missions.<\/p>\n
From sitting in front of grandma\u2019s TV to watching it while on a family vacation in Florida from their parents\u2019 backseat. Those who lived through the first moon landing remember it fondly.<\/p>\n
WATCH: NASA\u2019s historic Artemis II successfully lifts off, reaches orbit <\/a><\/p>\n Jim Scott, the director of the Patrick Henry Hays Senior Center in North Little Rock, said it\u2019s something that shaped his younger days.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something that had never been done by man, and here we are 50-some odd years later. We\u2019re getting ready to do this again,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n Jacquelin Maize, a member of the center, says it will always stick out.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s so iconic. It was something that, you know, we\u2019ll remember this for the rest of our lives,\u201d Maize said.<\/p>\n Memories of Apollo 11 are flooding back ahead of the Artemis II launch.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s the time when they said it was one giant step for mankind,\u201d Fred Bledsoe said.<\/p>\n \u201cNeil Armstrong planting the American flag,\u201d Herb Crouch said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were looking up at the moon, thinking there are people up there going around the moon,\u201d Thomas Sarlo said.<\/p>\n They remember where they were and how old too.<\/p>\n \u201cI was in college at the time. I remember it well,\u201d Joe Sarlo said.<\/p>\n \u201cI was a senior in high school. I was like 17 years old,\u201d Maize said.<\/p>\n That launched an inspiration for some.<\/p>\n \u201cMy high school years, my younger years, the only thing I wanted to be was a pilot or be an astronaut,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n Not as much for others\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI kind of like having my feet planted on the ground,\u201d Fred Bledsoe said.<\/p>\n Many were looking forward to the moment all day.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I\u2019m excited about it. I want to stay up late tonight and watch it,\u201d Joe Sarlo said.<\/p>\n His brother, hoping it\u2019s a blast off point to bigger projects.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m hoping they eventually will build bases on the moon so that it can launch up to other planets,\u201d Thomas Sarlo said.<\/p>\n