Last week, Ohio and the rest of the nation lost a great man, a man who has left a lasting legacy on the entire world — John Glenn. On December 8, 2016, John Glenn passed away at 95 years old.
From his service in the military to his dedication to space exploration, he has been a huge part of American history. He has also impacted my own life, as a hero, a mentor, and a man I look up to in all regards.
John Glenn was a native Ohioan, born and raised in Cambridge and who graduated from the local university, Muskingum College.
As a man who has the utmost respect for our veterans and those who serve our country, one of the main reasons I so look up to Glenn is for his dedication to our military. He was a distinguished fighter pilot in both World War II and the Korean War, flying numerous missions and receiving countless acknowledgments and awards for his service.
In 1959, Glenn was selected by NASA as one of the “Mercury Seven,” a group of military test pilots to become America’s first astronauts. As a part of this group, Glenn flew the Friendship 7 mission and became the fifth person in space and the first American to orbit the Earth, which catapulted the United States into the space race, against the rest of the world.
As a lover of aviation history, I continue to be in awe of what Glenn did personally for America in terms of aeronautical development and exploration.
From there, Glenn would continue his life of public service by running for a United States Senate seat in Ohio. After winning a seat in 1974, Glenn began a political career that would last until 1999. Although he was a member of the Democratic Party and had some different ideological views than myself, his career in politics is one I admire and that influences my own political decisions and ambitions.
Glenn had one of the most remarkable career developments of anyone I have had the privilege to know.
This weekend, Ohio and the nation will pay tribute to John Glenn and his extraordinary life. On Friday, December 16th and into Saturday, his body will lay in state in the rotunda of the Ohio Statehouse. The public can visit from noon until 8:00 p.m., with no tickets required. On Saturday, beginning at 12:15 p.m., a procession lead by the hearse carrying his body will proceed from the Statehouse to the Ohio State University.
At the end of the procession, a public memorial service will be held at Mershon Auditorium on campus at 2 p.m. I will certainly be in attendance at a variety of these services to pay my respects, and I encourage Ohioans to honor Glenn’s life and career by doing so as well.
Since his passing, I have had a heavy heart. I have been lucky enough to have a relationship with John Glenn and his wife, Annie, and I struggle to think of two people that are more sincere and more dedicated to this nation. It is truly difficult to lose a lifetime mentor, but especially a legend I have admired for his renowned career, steady morals, and love of family.
My thoughts and prayers continue to be with his family during this difficult time. Godspeed, John Glenn.
Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) represents the 91st District, which includes Clinton County.
