RIP John Glenn

[Loresinger]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/08/us/jo ... -dies.html

He inspired so many to think of possibilities. I wasn't sure where to put this. I realize getting to space and living to 95 is pretty amazing but his presence will be missed. I trust he joins the stars where he belongs

[SciFiFisher]

It's a sad thing in part because he was the last of the astronauts to achieve what they did.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Yeah

[Thumper]

The Last Great American Hero. My parents got to see him this summer when he spoke at the dedication of John Glenn Airport as they were flying out to Oregon. They were very impressed.

But we do still have Moonwalkers.

[Rommie]

What was amazing to me about John Glenn was he was not only an accomplished astronaut/ fighter pilot, he was also a US Senator for four terms and was married for over 70 years. I have a friend who saw them both once in DC, in their sixties, and he was still doting on her.

What a class act.

[Thumper]

John and Annie basically met as toddlers. They were together their entire lives. The depth of his love and commitment for her and the ferocity in his defense for her played out a bit in the movie, The Right Stuff.
Whatever you want to do, I will back you up one hundred percent.

[Parrothead]

RIP.

At age 77, he got to go up in the space shuttle. I'll just finish with Scott Carpenter's words from Feb. 1962:

"Godspeed, John Glenn"

[Thumper]

My Dad walked from his office down to the statehouse where Colonel Glenn was lying, to pay his respects. Then both my parents watched the memorial service up on the campus of the Ohio State University on TV. Both his son and daughter spoke. My parents said it was very moving and touching. Many of us know of John Glenn as a war hero, a hot shot test pilot, a brave pioneering astronaut. Later a senator and champion for all things good, a presidential contender, and finally an elder statesman.

His children gave us a glimpse of John Glenn: the Dad.

[Thumper]

Colonel Glenn was laid to rest yesterday at Arlington National Cemetery. Flags across the country were ordered at half mast.

[geonuc]

That's quite a delay. Is that normal?

[Thumper]

I'm not sure why the timeline. I was surprised to hear the announcement earlier last week. 4 months. I don't know if they wanted to have the ceremony at Arlington with a better chance of good weather, or maybe his site needed work that couldn't be accomplished in Jan-Feb. But I thought the same thing.

[Swift]

That's quite a delay. Is that normal?

There was an article about it in the Plain Dealer on Friday. They mentioned in passing that the delay was not unusual, but didn't give details.

I had forgotten I didn't comment in this thread; I think I did on Facebook and CQ.

I met Glenn a couple of times when he was a Senator, and then went to the event they had a couple of years ago at Cleveland State University to mark the 50th anniversary of his first spaceflight. I think right around that time he finally gave up his pilot's license and stopped flying single engine planes.

To call him a true gentleman and a true American hero doesn't even encompass all he was.

[Parrothead]

I heard/saw in one clip, the burial took place on the day of what would have been their wedding anniversary. The family had asked for this.

[Thumper]

Awwww.

[SciFiFisher]

I think part of the ability to admire people like John Glenn is that he really was a great person. And if they had flaws the media wasn't quite as willing to make sure everyone knew about them. For example, the media didn't play up the fact that Rock Hudson was gay. Or that President Johnson could come across as pretty coarse when talking privately.