New Concord remembers John Glenn

NEW CONCORD, Ohio – It’s not hard to find John Glenn’s legacy in his hometown. From a basketball gymnasium, to a museum, and even a high school, his name is found everywhere.

“We’re so blessed to have him as an image, as a role model, as a genuine real hero,” said former Muskingum University basketball coach Jim Burson, who knew Glenn for over 50 years.

At Westminster Presbyterian Church, the same church that Glenn attended as a boy, village residents and friends gathered for a vigil to remember an American hero.

“You never hear anything negative about him,” said Greg Brown, who grew up in New Concord and worked as an intern for Senator Glenn in 1994 in Washington DC. “He was always standing up for the little guy.”

Burson was there in 1962 after Glenn orbited the Earth in Friendship 7 and got parade through the streets of New Concord. He said that Glenn made everyone feel special.

“I’m in line with 30,000 people and [Glenn] turns and waves to me and so did Annie. And I thought ‘Wow, John Glenn waved to me.’ No matter if it was just for a moment to say hi he’d still make you feel like a hero. That’s a true hero.”

Those in New Concord say they will remember him as a man that served in two wars, represented Ohio in the Senate for a quarter century, went to the stars and back – but never forgot his hometown.

“He really means New Concord as much as anything else. He always considered this the center of the universe. Thinking that if you got your start here you could really go anywhere,” said Brown.

The honors will continue for Glenn this coming week. On Friday his body will lay in the Ohio Statehouse from noon until 8 p.m. so that anyone can pay their last respects. Then on Saturday Ohio State University will hold a public memorial at Mershon Auditorium at 2 p.m.

Glenn’s body will then be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery just outside of Washington DC.