RIP John Glenn

[hobub]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/12/08/former-astronaut-and-us-senator-john-glenn-dies-at-95.html

I had the pleasure of meeting him at Bob Evans by chance in Sunbury Oh, a few years back. I can't think of anyone living (at the time) I would have rather met. Daniel Boone? Christopher Columbus? That caliber a person.

us_with_john_glenn.jpg

[drquest]

Darn..... American hero for sure!

That's cool you were able to meet him.

[Hector]

Yeah, I knew...he was one of my personal heroes...I love and follow the space program as much as anything.

These were all brave men, Chuck Yeager (too bad he couldn't become an astronaut), Neil Armstrong...and John Glenn...awesome friggin fighter pilots...doing all these highly dangerous flight tests...now those were men with balls of steel.

RIP to a true American hero...

[PNGwynne]

^ Well said. And Mr. Glenn had an additional inspiration to me as our senator. RIP sir.

[Hector]

The mortality rate was sky high with those test pilots, especially in those days.

And as an astronaut, imagine Glenn, all alone, inside a compartment the size of a large washing machine...sitting on top of a missile, about to take off in a controlled explosion, that's some scary arze shlt right there.

...thanks to guys like these (and engineers, scientist, etc)...you get to enjoy TV, Internet, cell phones, etc.

Going to Mars is next, then find ET.

This passing saddens me greatly...

[johnnystorm]

An awesome hero. I cannot imagine the kind of courage & nerves it took to do what men like John Glenn did. I can't bring myself to get on certain rides at an amusement park, and these astronauts were willing to blast into the unknown. And Glenn went and did it again at age 77!
I wish the accomplishments of our space pioneers were taught and appreciated in our schools. Why the moon landing isn't celebrated as a national holiday is something I've never understood!

[hobub]

The mortality rate was sky high with those test pilots, especially in those days.

And as an astronaut, imagine Glenn, all alone, inside a compartment the size of a large washing machine...sitting on top of a missile, about to take off in a controlled explosion, that's some scary arze shlt right there.

...thanks to guys like these (and engineers, scientist, etc)...you get to enjoy TV, Internet, cell phones, etc.

Going to Mars is next, then find ET.

This passing saddens me greatly...

Every time we would drive by Cambridge and see his and his wife's historical site (brown sign) along the highway, I would always remind my wife that there probably are not many signs like that for someone still living. Very sad day indeed.

[Hector]

Why the moon landing isn't celebrated as a national holiday is something I've never understood!

I think it will someday...not within our lifetimes...but down the line in the future...when we are more advanced as a society, and appreciate this monumental event more.

[PNGwynne]

An awesome hero...
I wish the accomplishments of our space pioneers were taught and appreciated in our schools. Why the moon landing isn't celebrated as a national holiday is something I've never understood!

Growing up in the early '70's on Ohio, with museums in Dayton and Wapakoneta, those accomplishments seemed pervasive, admired, and appreciated. You raise an excellent point about a national holiday.

[Hector]

Every time we would drive by Cambridge and see his and his wife's historical site (brown sign) along the highway, I would always remind my wife that there probably are not many signs like that for someone still living. Very sad day indeed.

Amen, brother, amen...

[enyawd72]

A true American and Ohio hero and legend...the true passing of an era. RIP

[HardyGirl]

Very sad, but a good long life to be sure. The first men to journey to the moon have always been a brave lot to me. John Glenn and those like him are the real superheroes. RIP sir. Thanks for what you did for our country.

[TrekStar]

Very sad news, I envied him for his achievements, RIP

[SKotK]

I have very few real life heroes. But the Apollo astronauts in particular have always been heroes to me since I was a child, with John Glenn not least among them. I salute you, sir.

Astronaut salute.jpg

--SKot

[Apositive]

It was a moment of sadness with me when I read about his passing in the New York Times. I deliberately avoided other coverage and I took the time to reflect on his life and the Mercury Seven program. They were all heroes and he was perhaps the most well known. It was years before my birth, yet the seven were an inspiration to me.