On the morning of Feb. 20, 1962, the nation held its breath as astronaut John Glenn blasted off into space, becoming the first American to orbit Earth. Just before countdown, astronaut Scott Carpenter at mission control in Cape Canaveral would state the now immortal words, “Godspeed, John Glenn.” The nation once again held its its breath for John Glenn yesterday as we learned of his failing health. Now the nation mourns the loss of a true American hero, John Glenn.

John Glenn has lived a life that few of us can imagine, having been revered more than artists, actors, authors, generals and even presidents. He answered the call to serve his nation during two world wars, the Second Word War and the Korean War. He was selected as one of our nation’s first astronauts, and in 1962 he became the first American to orbit the Earth, lifting the spirits of the nation during the height of the Cold War, when many said that the United States could not compete with the Soviet Union.