On December 24, 1968, Apollo 8 with Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders reached and went into orbit around the moon, becoming the first to do so. The next day, the Service Propulsion System was fired, enabling them to start their return trip.
The mission was made possible by the work of someone who was born on December 25, 1642. His name was Isaac Newton, the greatest scientist that ever lived. If I recall correctly, the crew gave Sir Isaac credit as it was his laws of motion and gravitation that allowed Apollo 8 to go from the earth to the moon and then return.
Aside from being the first time that men reached the moon, Apollo 8 is likely best remembered for this:
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap181224.html
Thank you, gentlemen and thank you, Sir Isaac. I was a teenager in junior high school when it happened. It was a grand time to be alive.
73s, Merry Christmas, Frohes Weihnachtsfest, and joyeux Noel
Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL