Image: The casket of John Glenn is carried out of the Ohio Statehouse by Marines during his funeral procession, Dec. 17, in Columbus, Ohio.

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Mourners Remember Beloved Astronaut John Glenn

Mourners packed an Ohio State University auditorium Saturday for a memorial service for space pioneer John Glenn.

Vice President Joe Biden wipes away a tear as he speaks during a public memorial service for John Glenn at Ohio State University in Columbus on Dec. 17. Glenn died on Dec. 8 at the age of 95.

He grew up in eastern Ohio before becoming a national hero when he orbited Earth in 1962. Before that he was a fighter pilot in World War II and Korea.

A Democrat, Glenn also spent more than two decades representing Ohio in the U.S. Senate and became the oldest man in space, at age 77 in 1998.

— Paul Vernon / AFP - Getty Images

A bagpiper plays at the memorial service.

— Paul Vernon / AFP - Getty Images

The casket of John Glenn is carried out of the Ohio Statehouse by Marines on Dec. 17 in Columbus.

— John Minchillo / AP

Annie Glenn touches the casket of her husband as he lies in honor under a United States Marine honor guard in the Rotunda of the Ohio Statehouse on Dec. 16.

— John Minchillo / AP

Image: A young man pays his respects to former astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn as he lies in repose, under a United States Marine honor guard, in the Rotunda of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus

A young man was one of thousands of visitors to pay their respects to Glenn at the statehouse.

— NASA / Reuters

Image: Former astronaut and United States Senator John Glenn lies in state, under a U.S. Marine honor guard, in the Rotunda of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio

A U.S. Marine honor guard stands by the coffin of John Glenn in the Rotunda of the Ohio Statehouse on Dec. 16.

John Glenn's Life in Pictures

— Bill Ingalls / NASA via Reuters

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