John Herschel Glenn Jr. (July 18, 1921 – December 8, 2016) was an American aviator, engineer, astronaut, and United States Senator from Ohio. In 1962 he became the first American to orbit the Earth, circling three times. Before joining NASA, he was a distinguished fighter pilot in both World War II and Korea, with five Distinguished Flying Crosses and eighteen clusters.
He was one of the "Mercury Seven" group of military test pilots selected in 1959 by NASA to become America's first astronauts. On February 20, 1962, Glenn flew the Friendship 7 mission and became the first American to orbit the Earthand the fifth person in space. Glenn received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1978, and was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1990. Glenn was the last surviving member of the Mercury Seven after the death of Scott Carpenter.
Glenn resigned from NASA in 1964 and announced plans to run for a U.S. Senate seat from Ohio. A member of the Democratic Party, he first won election to the Senate in 1974 where he served through January 3, 1999.
He retired from the Marine Corps in 1965, after twenty-three years in the military, with over fifteen medals and awards, including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. In 1998, while still a sitting senator, he became the oldest person to fly in space, and the only one to fly in both the Mercury and Space Shuttle programs as crew member of the Discovery space shuttle. He was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.
Wikipedia contributors. "John Glenn." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 9 Dec. 2016. Web. 9 Dec. 2016.
John Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth. He died yesterday at the age of ninety-five. He had been called "the last true national hero America has ever had", by author, Tom Wolfe.
John Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth. He died yesterday at the age of ninety-five. He had been called "the last true national hero America has ever had", by author, Tom Wolfe.
The Washington Post reported that Glenn "did not drink, smoke or swear and maintained a disciplined, straight-arrow manner" during his training and across his NASA career. He went on to serve four terms in the Senate representing the people of Ohio. In 1998 he joined the crew of the space shuttle Discovery, returning to space at the age of seventy-seven.
John Glenn was revered for his courage, morality, and commitment to service. But there's another factor that explains all three, one that many of today's obituaries are omitting.
What really impresses me is that John Glenn said during his 1998 shuttle mission - "To look up out at this kind of creation and not believe in God is to me impossible. It just strengthens my faith." He said that he prayed every day while in orbit. He made his faith public in the many spheres that he served in, in life.
Visiting space has had a profound affect on many astronauts. Buzz Aldrin's first act when he landed on the moon was to celebrate communion, Frank Borman commanded the first space crew to travel beyond Earth's orbit and radioed back a message quoting from Genesis 1: 'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.' James Irwin walked on the moon in 1971 and subsequently became an evangelical minister. Charles Duke followed Irwin to the moon and later became a missionary.
Seeing the universe from God's perspective has always had a startling affect on people! David wrote in Psalm 8 'when I look at the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him'?
Isn't is amazing that the creator of this Universe should consider us! He did for the Bible says 'the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world'.
John Glenn has now traveled far beyond this world and so will you and I at the end of our time on earth. Where will your destination be - heaven or hell. Will you be welcomed into heaven because your sins were forgiven on earth or will you be banished, eternally, from the presence of God because you refused to believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
I'm praying that you will make the right choice.
Isn't is amazing that the creator of this Universe should consider us! He did for the Bible says 'the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world'.
John Glenn has now traveled far beyond this world and so will you and I at the end of our time on earth. Where will your destination be - heaven or hell. Will you be welcomed into heaven because your sins were forgiven on earth or will you be banished, eternally, from the presence of God because you refused to believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
I'm praying that you will make the right choice.
To access podcasts and videos explaining the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk
This site will give you access to Bible Teaching Audio's and Video's as well.
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