This evening, I learned with the rest of the world, that we lost another American icon --- Walter Cronkite died Friday, July 17th at the age of 92.
I'm sad and happy at the same time. I'm sad because the loss I feel for a man that was a true inspiration to me. I'm happy because his life isn't over by a long shot and perhaps I'll get the chance to actually get to know the man on the other side of our blessed eternity.
I can remember back to 1969 when I was four years old. I remember vividly - holding a microphone plugged into my dad's reel-to-reel audio recorder up to our black and white television as Walter Cronkite called the play-by-play of man's first landing and steps on the moon. How could I forget that? Talk about all the impressions that event alone made on a young boy of four - let alone - this remarkable fellow who had this way of capturing his audience with his genuine love for reporting the news. And did he cover the news or what? From wars to peace treaties - hostage situations to man's knocking a golf ball around on another planet. Think this guy was blessed or what?
So happiness prevails as I honor this man many of us grew up with every evening - hearing all about the world and what was happening in it.
Having been in the radio/television industry for more than 20 years now; I recall my wanting grow up to be just like Walter Cronkite. In my opinion; they don't make them like that anymore. That is not in any way suggesting there is no talent in the industry today. But come on... there literally is (was) - only one Cronkite.
"And that's the way it is - Friday, July 17th, Two Thousand Nine." Farewell Walter.