Tony Thurmond: “though the 105th Congress will soon come to a close, and each of us will return home to meet with constituents, or take…”

“though the 105th Congress will soon come to a close, and each of us will return home to meet with constituents, or take fact finding trips throughout the nation or the world, one of our colleagues has not only already left town, but is headed for a most unusual destination, that of outer space. I speak, of course, of our friend, John Glenn who is ending his career in the United States Senate. Like most people, I first learned of John Glenn in 1962 when he orbited the Earth, but when the people of Ohio elected him to this Body in 1974, I had the opportunity to come to know him personally. In the subsequent years, we worked closely together on a number of issues, especially those related to national security as we served together on the Senate Committee on the Armed Forces. Naturally, his experiences as a Marine Corps officer gave Senator Glenn valuable insight into defense matters and he played an important role on the Committee and in working to help provide for a military adequately capable of protecting the United States. The same qualities that made John Glenn a successful Marine and astronaut, served him well here in the United States Senate. Without question, he is a determined man who has earned our respect for his honor, ability, and dedication. His desire to serve our nation is an inspiration, and in keeping with the highest traditions of public service.”