When
John Glenn blasted off from Cape Canaveral atop an Atlas rocket in
1962, he lifted the hopes of a nation. And when his Friendship 7
spacecraft splashed down a few
hours later, the first American to orbit the Earth reminded us that
with courage and a spirit of discovery there's no limit to the heights
we can reach together. With John's passing, our nation has lost an icon
and Michelle and I have lost a friend. John
spent his life breaking barriers, from defending our freedom as a
decorated Marine Corps fighter pilot in World War II and Korea, to
setting a transcontinental speed record, to becoming, at age 77, the
oldest human to touch the stars. 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. Today, the people of Ohio remember a devoted public servant
who represented his fellow Buckeyes in the U.S. Senate
for a quarter century and who fought to keep America a leader in
science and technology. Our thoughts are with his beloved wife Annie,
their children John and Carolyn and the entire Glenn family. 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.
Statement by the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden
Any
minute spent with John Glenn was a blessing. Because for all his
heroism that history will remember—in war, in space, in public life—you
felt something deeper. You felt his
capacity to love—the country he inspired, the people of Ohio he served.
And most especially, love for his Annie, a hero in her own right, and
together, they forged a true partnership that bore the weight of fame
and responsibility with the humility and sense
of duty that defined them as the greatest of America’s greatest
generation.
Jill
and I are blessed for the twenty-five years we shared with John and
Annie in the United States Senate, and for the forty years we have
shared as dear friends. In our prayers
to Annie, their children John David and Lyn, and the entire Glenn
family, we can only offer the solace that future generations of
Americans, when tested and challenged, will find a model for how to
explore, serve, and love. For if there is ever a message to
send beyond our time here on our Earth for what it means to be an
American, it is the life of John Glenn. Godspeed, friend.
Source: The White House, Offices of the Press Secretary and Vice President
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