CINCINNATI – Two fellow lunar pioneers helped launch a children's health fund Friday in memory of Neil Armstrong, whom they praised as an inspirational team player, a humble hero.

Eugene Cernan and James Lovell spoke at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center a few hours before a private service in suburban Cincinnati for Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, who died Saturday at 82. A national memorial service in Washington is being planned within the next two weeks; President Barack Obama ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff to honor Armstrong.

"America has truly lost a legend," said Cernan, who said Armstrong was a hero who "came from the culture of our country," growing up on a western Ohio farm, flying combat missions, and then joining the space program.