i called john and annie earlier this year to congratulate them on their 73rd anniversary. when john put annie on the phone, he said she said, and i quote, charlie, you know, i think this is going to work. john glenn always said yes. yes to his country s call and the united states marine corps, yes to being the first american to orbit earth as one of mercury 7, yes to his state s nomination to serve in the senate, and yes to the ongoing call of his nation to help it forge a path through a new millennium. it was courage, grace, and humility jaundice played throughout john displayed throughout his life that lifted him above the stars. as the current head of nasa, i
him because of who he was and what he stood for. reporter: what he stood for was a love of country, the marines, his family and his god. one of my all-time favorite john glenn quotes, back in 1959, at the press conference to introduce the original mercury 7 astronaut, glenn said this, we re placed here with certain talents and capabilities. it is up to each of us to use those talents and capabilities the best we can. if you do that, i think there are powers greater than any of us that will place us in the opportunities in our way. that is the kind of life john glenn did live. elizabeth? kristin fisher reporting live. for our viewers, we ll be checking with you throughout the day, throughout that service. i want to bring in my colleague, leland. i was reading a piece in the washington post, famous twin
space. in 1988, he flew one last mission at the age of 77 becoming the oldest man in space. glenn is being mem oralized today. vice president biden will speak shortly. joining me now is former astronaut scott altman. what are you feeling as the nation says good-bye to this extraordinary man? it s a bittersweet experience. at the same time, it s a celebration of the life of just an incredible american. the role model for me as an astronaut. what do you think did he specifically that touched the hearts of so many in the public throughout his life? he was just an incredible stand-up guy. you got that from him when you talk to him. from the beginning as one of the original mercury 7 through when he came back to nasa in 1998. i got to know him on a personal level after growing up looking
godspeed john glenn. five, four, three, two, one. roger. the clock is operating. we re underway. roger, we re programming. well, during this past week the country has been mourning the loss of astronaut john glenn. he rocketed into the history books as the first american to orbit the earth. he did that on february 20th, 1962. the former astronaut and senator died this week in ohio at the age of 95. he was as you know the last of the original mercury 7 astronauts who launched the u.s. space program and joining us is the author of the book ask the astronaut. answers to your questions in space flight. he has been up there former astronaut tom jones who joins us from washington. so good to see you. john glenn was so iconic. the very symbol of american
checking top stories for you at 10:36 eastern time. trial resumes for the man accused of gunning down nine black parishioners at a charleston church this morning. this after new video was just released showing roof entering and leaving the church on the night of the shooting. the officer who arrested roof is expected to take the stand today as well as the investigator who interviewed him. flags at the nation s capitol are at half staff to honor the extraordinary life of war hero and long-time senator john glenn, who died thursday at an ohio hospital. glenn was the first american to orbit the earth and the last surviving member of the mercury 7. he was 95. an alabama man was executed overnight for killing a convenience store clerk two decades ago. his attorney made a series of last minute appeals to halt the execution. the supreme court granted two temporary stays but late last night, the justices ruled it could proceed. the second police officer involved in the georgia man hunt