By: Mashaunda Alecia Guice
A University of Phoenix Criminal Justice Graduate Student
My professional, academic, and military background has prepared me to conduct various forms of research. I am currently a Criminal Justice graduate student with the University of Phoenix, and I have been tasked by my professor, retired NASA Office of Inspector General Senior Special Agent Joseph Richard Gutheinz, Jr., to investigate the whereabouts of Vermont’s Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 Moon Rocks, which were awarded to the State of Vermont over 35 years ago.
Anything I can say about New Hampshire
Will serve almost as well about vermont,
Excepting that they differ in their mountains.
The vermont mountains stretch extended straight;
New Hampshire mountains curl up in a coil.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)
As the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) celebrates the moment which made history 40 years ago this year—the first American moon walk, it is sad to hear that many of the treasures that were awarded to states and nations of the world following that historical moment have been displaced and even destroyed and stolen.
My search commenced with brainstorming who to contact regarding the rocks awarded to the State of Vermont. Additionally I discerned that I needed to get a better understanding on the history and significance behind the moon rocks. I learned that between 1969 and 1972, NASA conducted 6 manned missions to the moon. The first of these missions was the Apollo 11 mission. The first of these missions was where Apollo 11 gave us the immortal words: "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Another mission, Apollo 13, almost proved to be detrimental to the space mission. To share the accomplishments of the six Apollo missions, President Richard Nixon distributed Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 moon rocks to all 50 states including Puerto Rico, and nations all over the world. After I discerned an understanding about the history of the moon rocks, I began to hunt them down.
I started with sending emails to the governor of Vermont, Mr. Jim Douglas, the Vermont Historical Society, the Fairbanks Museum, the Vermont State Archives, and the University of Vermont’s School of Science. I doubted that I would hear anything back. To my surprise—and my relief, I did. A very helpful woman named Mary Rogstad, a registrar at the Vermont Historical Society (VHS), sent me the information that I was requesting. Even though I had sent an email directly to Ms. Rogstad, my email to the State Archives was also forwarded to her. The state of Vermont was indeed aware of the whereabouts of their precious commodities. The plaque which houses the Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 rocks are safely inside of a case at the Vermont Historical Society.
In order to get to East Russet you take the vermont Central as far as Twitchell’s Falls and change there for Torpid River Junction, where a spur line takes you right into Gormley. At Gormley you are met by a buckboard which takes you back to Torpid River Junction again.
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)
According to Rogstad, the Apollo 11 moon rocks were brought back from the moon's surface by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, Jr. on July 16, 1969. These chips are black and weigh 50 milligrams. The Apollo 11 rocks are fragments of crystalline rock, breccias, and glass sieved from the dusty lunar surface. They were a gift to the people of Vermont from President Richard M. Nixon. They were conveyed to the VHS by then Governor Deane Davis. In December of 1972, NASA conveyed moon rock from the Apollo 17 mission to each state. This gift consisted of a fragmented single rock imbedded in plastic sphere, called a Lucite ball, and mounted, with a small Vermont flag, on a wooden base. Ms. Rogstad was gracious enough to even send pictures of the rocks.
After concluding my research for these rocks, I can admit that I have gained a greater appreciation for the purpose which they serve. I believe the most important fact to remember about these moon rocks is that they tell a story as well. Even after the stories about the first moon walk await the 50th anniversary before being discussed again, the moon rocks that are in our nation’s museums, planetariums, federal offices, and universities will allow the stories about that moment in history to stay fresh in our minds and hearts. Vermont should be commended for showing the proper respect for history, by properly maintaining these moon rock treasures for the citizens of Vermont to both see and enjoy.
I am currently a graduate student with the University of Phoenix.