Ohio State Joins Centennial Celebration of Life of John Glenn
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A celebration of the life and legacy of John Glenn on what would have been his 100th birthday is underway at The Ohio State University.
The pilot, astronaut, businessman and U.S. senator, would have turned 100 years old on Sunday. This year, the John Glenn College of Public Affairs will recognize his birthday with a series of events and exhibits.
Glenn, who died Dec. 8, 2016, was considered by many to be a national hero. Selected by NASA as one of the first seven astronauts in the U.S. space program, in 1962 he became the first American to orbit the Earth. He flew on a space shuttle mission at the age of 77, in 1998, making him the oldest person to go into space. Glenn also served 24 years in the U.S. Senate.
“John Glenn remains an American icon. His courage and commitment to discovery, education and public service were unwavering,” said Trevor Brown, dean of the Glenn College. “We are excited to be a part of the celebration of Glenn’s life and legacy.”
The Glenn College will be participating in a centennial celebration planned in the towns of Cambridge, Glenn’s birthplace, and New Concord, where he and his wife, Annie, grew up.
Today a special Friendship 7-Mile Parade from Cambridge to New Concord will take place with pre- and post-parade remarks by Glenn’s daughter, Lyn Glenn, Trevor Brown, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and others.
At Ohio State, University Libraries’ Ohio Public Policy Archives has created a new John Glenn exhibit on the ground floor of Page Hall. A series of videos exploring the exhibit and can be viewed at https://go.osu.edu/jgc-exhibit-tour.
The Glenn College is developing plans to hold a series of events during the 2021-2022 academic year that will celebrate Glenn’s life of service. The college expects to announce events this fall.
Pictured at top: The late John Glenn stands in front of Page Hall, home of the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at Ohio State.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
