14 DAY TRIAL // During a ceremony held at the White House yesterday, May 29, the first American astronaut to reach Earth's orbit was awarded the Medal of Freedom by US President Barack Obama. The honor is the highest civilian award that can be received in the United States.
It is awarded for “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors,” with only 11 or so medals granted each year.
John Glenn was a member of the Mercury Seven, the first group of astronauts selected by NASA on April 9, 1959, which also included Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra, Gordon Cooper, and Deke Slayton.
Glenn was the first recognized NASA astronaut, after flying more than 185 kilometers (115 miles) above the surface of the planet, aboard a Mercury spacecraft. The vehicle traveled at more than 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) per hour.
After retiring from NASA, he joined the Democratic Party and ran for public office. He represented his home state of Ohio in Congress between 1974 and 1999, and is now 90 years old. He and Scott Carpenter (87) are now the only living members of the Mercury Seven.
Glenn received the Presidential Medal of Freedom with 12 others, including the founder of the Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low, former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, and musician Bob Dylan.
“This is the highest civilian honor this country can bestow, which is ironic because nobody sets out to win it,” Obama told the crowd gathered at the White House to take part in the ceremony.
“No one picks up a guitar, or fights a disease, or starts a movement thinking, 'You know what? If I keep this up, in 2012 I could get a medal in the White House from a guy named Barack Obama.' But that is precisely what makes this award so special,” President Obama added.
“On the morning that John Glenn blasted off into space, America stood still. For a half an hour, the phone stopped ringing at Chicago police headquarters. New York subway drivers offered a play-by-play account over the loud speakers,” he said before awarding Glenn with the medal.
“President Kennedy interrupted a breakfast with congressional leaders to join 100 million TV viewers to hear the famous words 'Godspeed John Glenn',” Obama added.
“The first American to orbit the Earth, John Glenn became a hero in every sense of the word but he didn't stop there serving his country. As a senator, he found new ways to make a difference. And on his second trip into space at age 77, he defied the odds once again,” the President concluded, quoted by Space.