Sad news John Glenn first American to orbit Earth has died. Reacting to news of Glenn's death, Nasa tweeted that he was "a true American hero". "Godspeed, John Glenn. Ad astra", it added, with a Latin phrase that means, "to the stars". http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38257445
I was 7 years old and glued to the TV the day he went on his flight. An amazing man, an amazing life. Gentlemen like that are few and far between. God's Speed John, you truly had the Right Stuff.
I was 5 years old and also glued to the TV that day. Because of Glenn's flight and because a trip to the Smithsonian in summer of '63 to see his capsule newly set up as an exhibit, I remain glued to the space program. Miss the enthusiastic wonder of it all when seen through a child's eyes. Miss the space program. Will miss Glenn, an authentic hero.
I am also a child of the 60's and well remember Friendship 7 and the other heroic Mercury 7 astronauts. They were the bravest of men riding experimental missile rockets into the unknown of space. When he returned from his mission, John Glenn was overwhelmed with the adulation of a grateful and adoring public. Thousands of congratulatory letters were sent and Glenn picked out a few dozen to be published in a book. The book title came from the postscript of a lettter from a young admirer. I think my older sister still has her copy. Godspeed John Glenn
I was a kid in high school in a small town in the middle of Nowhere Australia in 1962. I remember watching the news on a B&W TV, hardly able to see the pictures through the snow, and thinking to myself "is he crazy, or just incredibly brave?". I think there was a little bit of crazy, and a whole truckload of brave in that man. He became my last "childhood hero" before I gave them away and simply respected and admired humans of his stature. Sorry to see you go JG.