Farewell tributes for astronaut John Glenn
COLUMBUS, OHIO // Two days of public events celebrating the life of US astronaut John Glenn began yesterday in his native Ohio, where the body of the first American to orbit Earth lay in state.
A steady stream of mourners filed past his flag-draped casket in the Ohio statehouse. An honour guard of US marines stood by as people from Glenn’s home state and the nation came to say goodbye to the man who made history.
Glenn, who was also the first senior citizen to venture into space, died on December 8 at the age of 95.
His body was laid in the statehouse from noon yesterday, an honour usually bestowed only on high-ranking government officials. It will remain there until this afternoon.
A public memorial service will take place today on the campus of the Ohio State University, where Glenn taught during the latter part of his life at the college of public affairs which bears his name. Glenn became a symbol of strength and of America’s pioneering spirit, drawing admirers from all walks of life over a long career in the military, Nasa and the US senate.
US vice president Joe Bid- en and Nasa administrator Charles Bolden were among those scheduled to speak at the memorial service, along with Glenn’s adult children David and Lyn.
Glenn will be buried in April at Arlington national cemetery, just outside the capital, Washington.
He died surrounded by family at a Columbus hospital, where he spent the last week of his life.
Nasa led tributes to a man it called “a true American hero” for being among the first military pilots chosen to be US astronauts in 1959, the Original Seven whose saga was recounted in the classic film, The Right Stuff.
“John always had the right stuff, inspiring generations of scientists, engineers and astronauts who will take us to Mars and beyond – not just to visit, but to stay,” president Barack Obama said upon learning of Glenn’s death.
In his tribute to the late explorer, Mr Obama said: “The last of America’s first astronauts has left us, but propelled by their example we know that our future here on Earth compels us to keep reaching for the heavens.
“On behalf of a grateful nation, Godspeed, John Glenn.”