Sad to hear of the death of Sir Edmund Hillary. He died at home in New Zealand at the age of 88 on January 10. May his soul rest in peace.
For many of my generation, he was one of our earliest heroes as he was the first man to conquer Mt. Everest. When he climbed Mt. Everest in 1953, he and Tensing Norkay, the Nepali Sherpa with him became household names all over the world.
On May 29, 1953 he reached the peak of the 29,028 mountain peak, doing something which many have done since, but no one had ever done before.
Sir Edmund worked for environmental causes and humanitarian work on the behalf of the Nepalese people for the rest of his life. Sir Edmund lived a life of determination, humility, and generosity.” Hillary summarized it for schoolchildren in 1998, when he said one didn’t have to be a genius to do well in life.
”I think it all comes down to motivation. If you really want to do something, you will work hard for it,” he said.
The New Zealand flag will be flown at half-mast on all government and public buildings until midnight Saturday to mark Sir Edmund’s death.
In spirit, I am sure one will fly at half-mast on top of Mt. Everest as well.
People at Work & Play 