Ohio State joins centennial celebration of the life of John Glenn
Events and exhibits to honor Ohio-born astronaut and senator
|
The Ohio State University |
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.
A pilot, astronaut, businessman and U.S. senator, Glenn would have turned 100 years old on July 18. 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, he was the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962. 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 for July 16-18 in the towns of Cambridge, Glenn’s birthplace, and New Concord, where he and his wife, Annie, grew up.
On July 17, a special Friendship 7-Mile Parade from Cambridge to New Concord is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with pre- and post-parade remarks by Glenn’s daughter, Lyn Glenn, Trevor Brown, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and others.
University Libraries’ Ohio Public Policy Archives has created a new John Glenn exhibit on the ground floor of Page Hall. Students, faculty, staff and the public are invited to view the exhibit from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The exhibit includes memorabilia from:
- Glenn’s relationship with Ohio State
- His life and childhood
- His relationship with his wife, Annie
- His military, space and public service careers
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.
