ASTRONAUTS WITH MINISTERS AND DIPLOMATS CROWD LINING ROUTE AND TICKER-TAPE WELCOME.




Initials AB/VS/AS/PS



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Background: RIO DE JANEIRO BRAZIL'S BUSTLING SECOND CITY, WENT GAY FOR THE VISIT OF APOLLO II ASTRONAUTS NEIL ARMSTRONG AND MICHAEL COLLINS. TOP GOVERNMENT MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS TURNED OUT TO GREET THEM, AND FROM THE CITY ITSELF THERE WAS A RAPTUROUS TICKER-TAPE WELCOME.

THE ASTRONAUTS, WHO ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR WIVES, ARE ON THE LAST LEG OF THEIR 23-NATION WORLD TOUR. EARLIER THE TWO ASTRONAUTS HAD VISITED BRAZIL'S SPACE-AGE CAPITAL, BRASILIA.

IN RIO, BOTH MEN RECEIVED THE ORDER OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS, BRAZIL'S HIGHEST DECORATION, FROM FOREIGN MINISTER JOSE DE MAGALHAES-PINTO. ALSO THERE WAS THE U.S. AMBASSADOR, MR. ELBRICK.