[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JOHN GLENN

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to bid farewell to an 
American hero, a great Senator and a wonderful friend--Senator John 
Glenn. Senator Glenn is retiring after serving the people of Ohio for 
four terms.
  But his service to our country did not begin in the Senate, nor will 
it end here. Senator Glenn served in the Marine Corps during World War 
II and fought in combat in the South Pacific. He also fought with valor 
in the Korean conflict and ended up flying 149 missions in both wars. 
He has received numerous honors including six Distinguished Flying 
Cross and the Air Medal with 18 clusters.
  He later became a test pilot and set a transcontinental speed record 
in 1957 for this first flight to average supersonic speed from Los 
Angeles to New York. In 1959, he was selected to be one of seven 
astronauts in the space program. Three years later, he made history as 
the first American to orbit the earth, completing a 5 hour, three orbit 
flight.
  His heroism inspired me and all of the American people. He received 
the Space Congressional Medal of Honor for his service.
  After 23 years in military service, he retired in 1965 and went into 
the private sector. Despite his outstanding service to his country, it 
was not enough for John Glenn. He ran for the Senate in 1974 and is now 
completing his 24th year.
  Despite his fame, Senator Glenn was a workhorse, not a showhorse in 
the Senate. He took on complicated issues like nuclear proliferation, 
troop readiness, government ethics, civil service reform and campaign 
finance reform. He did his work with great diligence and thoroughness, 
with his eye on accomplishment not partisanship.
  If you add his 23 years of military service to his 24 years of 
Service to the people of Ohio, that is 47 years of dedication to our 
nation.
  But even this is not enough for John Glenn. On October 29th of this 
year, he will return to space on a shuttle mission. He will be the 
oldest person ever to travel in space but even then his journey will 
not be over.
  He will continue to represent the best of the American spirit and be 
an informal ambassador for scientific exploration.
  I wish him, his wife Annie, his children and grandchildren the very 
best for the future.

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