In 1998, when the space shuttle Discovery cleared the tower it was akin to the ancient fable of the phoenix rising from the ashes, for on board was the first American to orbit the Earth....John Glenn. As NASA so eloquently proclaimed at launch of this mission, "Liftoff of Discovery with a crew of six astronaut heroes and one American legend." John Glenn: American legend, astronaut, United States Senator, decorated Marine, businessman, husband, father. In essence the epitome of a true hero.

In 1962, John Glenn climbed into NASA's tiny Mercury capsule which rested atop a massive, liquid-oxygen filled rocket. On February 20, 1962, at 9:47 a.m., John Glenn's journey into history began as he was catapulted from the constraints of Earth's gravitational pull into the vacuum of space. It was an epic journey that saw him complete three successful orbits around the earth, reaching a maximum altitude of 162 miles and an orbital velocity of over 17,500 miles per hour. However, due to a systems malfunction, Glenn was forced to manually pilot his space capsule as he rocked wildly and watched as fiery bits of his ship floated past him into the emptiness of the black abyss. The success of the mission was confirmed when Glenn's "Friendship 7" Mercury spacecraft splashed down approximately 800 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral.

In retrospect, this defining moment marked a dramatic shift in the power-play of the Cold War and brought relief and hope to an anxious America. John Glenn had renewed our nations spirit and pride. Glenn was so important to our nation, that President Kennedy would not allow NASA to send him back into space, deeming him too valuable of an American hero to further risk his loss.

Shortly after his historic flight, Mr. Glenn left NASA and entered the private sector as an international executive in the cola industry, where his attention to detail and gutsy instincts served him well. Despite his success however, Mr. Glenn felt the need to once again serve his country. He set his sights on the United States Senate. In 1974, astronaut John Glenn was elected to represent the great State of Ohio in the U.S. Senate. For twenty-four years Mr. Glenn served as a Democratic Senator, focusing on issues such as arms control, nuclear proliferation, government efficiency, and campaign finance reform.

As the millennium crept ever closer, Mr. Glenn again yearned to touch the stars. On October 29, 1998, John Glenn returned to space with a crew of young astronauts who were not yet born when he made his first ascent beyond the atmosphere. After training diligently and easily passing the battery of physical tests before flight, Mr. Glenn, at 77 years old, became the oldest man to ever fly in space; and while there conducted medical tests to study the effects of zero-gravity on the aging body.

John Glenn is the 2000 recipient of this nation's prestigious American Institute of Public Service's "Jefferson Award." The award, which was established by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, was presented to Mr. Glenn for his national service as an elected official.

Currently, Mr. Glenn heads the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy at Ohio State University. His autobiography, John Glenn: A Memoir (1999), recalls his remarkable life and journey through the Canyon of Heroes.