Interred In A Private Ceremony Four Months After His Death

John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth and former Senator from the state of Ohio, was buried Thursday in a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Glenn passed away on December 8th at the age of 95. Fox News reports that he had been honored in his home state with a procession through downtown Columbus, OH. Some 2,500 people attended his memorial service.

Glenn was laid in repose in the Ohio Statehouse, where thousands of visitors came to pay their respects.

But Thursday's ceremony was closed to the public and the news media, though a portion was streamed live on the Internet by the military. Glenn's flag-draped casket was covered in a plastic sheet to protect it from a steady rain. There were no remarks made by anyone in attendance during the portion of the service that was made available to the public.

The Marine Times reports that the service was presided over by Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller. When Neller presented Glenn's widow Annie with a folded flag, she reportedly kissed him on the cheek.

Some 175 Marines took part in the ceremony, according to the report. Neller said  that he felt “completely humbled and honored to represent the Marine Corps as we laid to rest an American hero, a loving father and husband, a Marine.”

(Marine Corps image)

FMI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Glenn