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San Diego remembers John Glenn

Posted at 6:48 PM, Dec 08, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-08 21:48:05-05

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park issued a statement Thursday mourning the death of John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth and the last surviving member of the original "Mercury Seven" astronauts.

"John Glenn was a true American hero who served his country with great distinction as a decorated Marine Corps fighter pilot and astronaut, as well as a United States Senator from the great state of Ohio," said Jim Kidrick, president and CEO of the museum. "As a member of the International Air & Space Hall of Fame, he will always hold a special place at the San Diego Air & Space Museum."

Glenn was enshrined in the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego museum in 1968.

IMAGES: John Glenn through the years

On October 29, 1998, Glenn became the oldest human to venture into space at age 77 as a payload specialist on Discovery mission STS-95.

He died Thursday at his home in Columbus, Ohio. Glenn was 95.