Community and fraternity pay tribute to Neil Armstrong

PURDUE UNIVERSITY, Ind. (WLFI) - Before he walked on the moon, Neil Armstrong walked down the sidewalks of Purdue University. His statue, in from of a building that bears his name, has become a memorial for mourning Boilermakers and visitors.

Jeff Drake and his wife both attended Purdue and in 1969 watched their fellow Boilermaker do what had never been done before, walk on the moon.

"He's always been Purdue's most famous alumni, so he's known everywhere in the world every where you go," Drake said.

Xing Zhuo traveled from the University of Illinois to pay his respects at the statue. Zhuo said he's read news from his home in China about Armstrong's death and said his legacy is known around the world.

"He represents our human adventure and endeavor to outer space," Zhuo said.

One Purdue alumnus took his daughter to visit Armstrong's statue because she wants to follow in the famous Boilermaker's footsteps.

"She thinks that some day in her lifetime that tourism will be available to the moon, that she's going to go there and she knows that she has the ability to do that because he went there first," alumnus Jason King said.

While Boilermakers all across the world feel they have a special connection with Armstrong, some were lucky enough to call him a brother too.

Armstrong was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity while at Purdue.

President of the fraternity Paul Bloodgood said that special bond is something he'll never forget.

"Just knowing that Neil Armstrong shares the same brotherhood as you, signed the same things as you did, and did the same ritual. I mean, I've exchanged emails with him, so personally, it means a lot to me to just have that relationship with him," Bloodgood said.

Members of Phi Delta Theta honored Armstrong with a candle light vigil last night.

Bloodgood said the chapter was going to send Armstrong a get well video and card following his heart surgery but those cards full of jokes turned into letters of condolences for the family.

Bloodgood said walking through their house and seeing the pictures of Armstrong and his 1955 composite picture has new meaning since his passing.

"Now it's completely different," Bloodgood said. "Every time I walk by there's not going to be a second where I don't think of what he meant, not only to our chapter, our fraternity, but Purdue, the country, and the world. You can't say enough good things about Neil."

Bloodgood said it feels different to wear his Greek letters Phi Delta Theta now. He said people on campus seem to associate a new meaning with them too.

"People will see the letters and express their condolences for Neil," Bloodgood said. "It's special. Before you're just another Greek organization but now the letters kind of pop out a little bit."

Bloodgood said the fraternity is working with various organizations and alumni to plan a memorial ceremony for Neil Armstrong that will be open to the public.