best thing I have read for a long time.
*What a treat to read this…………………..* [image: https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UuYnmN4B9JY/Tis3cI-zgaI/AAAAAAAAKjM/GEhUDYxvmpw/s1600/John-and-Annie-GlennWEB.jpg] *John & Annie Glenn - For half a century, the world has applauded John Glenn as a heart- stirringAmerican hero. He lifted the nation's spirits when, as one of the originalMercury 7 astronauts, he was blasted alone into orbit around the Earth;the enduring affection for him is so powerful that even now people findthemselves misting up at the sight of his face or the sound of his voice. But for all these years, Glenn has had a hero of his own, someone whohe has seen display endless courage of a different kind:* *Annie Glenn.* *They have been married for 68 years.* *He is 90; she turned 92 on Friday.* *This weekend there has been news coverage of the 50th anniversary ofGlenn's flight into orbit. We are being reminded that, half a century downthe line, he remains America's unforgettable hero.* *He has never really bought that.* *Because the heroism he most cherishes is of a sort that is seldomcheered. It belongs to the person he has known longer than he has knownanyone else in the world.* *John Glenn and Annie Castor first knew each other when -- literally --they shared a playpen.* *In New Concord, Ohio, his parents and hers were friends. When thefamilies got together, their children played.* *John -- the future Marine fighter pilot, the future test-pilot ace,the future astronaut -- was pure gold from the start. He would end up havingwhat it took to rise to the absolute pinnacle of American regard during thespace race; imagine what it meant to be the young John Glenn in the smallconfines of New Concord .* *Three-sport varsity athlete, most admired boy in town, Mr. Everything.* *Annie Castor was bright, was caring, was talented, was generous ofspirit. But she could talk only with the most excruciating of difficulty. Ithaunted her.* *Her stuttering was so severe that it was categorized as an "85%"disability -- 85% of the time, she could not manage to make words come out.* *When she tried to recite a poem in elementary school, she was laughedat. She was not able to speak on the telephone. She could not have a regularconversation with a friend.* *And John Glenn loved her.* *Even as a boy he was wise enough to understand that people who couldnot see past her stutter were missing out on knowing a rare and wonderfulgirl.* *They married on April 6, 1943. As a military wife, she found that lifeas she and John moved around the country could be quite hurtful. She haswritten: "I can remember some very painful experiences -- especially theridicule."* *In department stores, she would wander unfamiliar aisles trying tofind the right section, embarrassed to attempt to ask the salesclerks forhelp. In taxis, she would have to write requests to the driver, because shecouldn't speak the destination out loud. In restaurants, she would point tothe items on the menu.* *A fine musician, Annie, in every community where she and John moved,would play the organ in church as a way to make new friends. She and Johnhad two children; she has written: "Can you imagine living in the modernworld and being afraid to use the telephone? 'Hello' used to be so hard forme to say. I worried that my children would be injured and need a doctor.Could I somehow find the words to get the information across on the phone?"* *John, as a Marine aviator, flew 59 combat missions in World War II and90 during the Korean War. Every time he was deployed, he and Annie saidgoodbye the same way. His last words to her before leaving were:* *"I'm just going down to the corner store to get a pack of gum."* *And, with just the two of them there, she was able to always reply:* *"Don't be long."* *On that February day in 1962 when the world held its breath and theAtlas rocket was about to propel him toward space, those were their words,once again. And in 1998, when, at 77, he went back to space aboard theshuttle Discovery, it was an understandably tense time for them. What ifsomething happened to end their life together? * *She knew what he would say to her before boarding the shuttle. Hedid -- and this time he gave her a present to hold onto:* *A pack of gum.* *She carried it in a pocket next to her heart until he was safely home.* *Many times in her life she attempted various treatments to cure herstutter. None worked.* *But in 1973, she found a doctor in Virginia who ran an intensiveprogram she and John hoped would help her. She travelled there to enrol andto give it her best effort. The miracle she and John had always waited forat last, as miracles will do, arrived. At age 53, she was able to talkfluidly, and not in brief, anxiety-ridden, agonizing bursts.* *John has said that on the first day he heard her speak to him withconfidence and clarity, he dropped to his knees to offer a prayer ofgratitude.* *He has written: "I saw Annie's perseverance and strength through theyears and it just made me admire her and love her even more.” * *He has heard roaring ovations in countries around the globe for his own valor, but hisawe is reserved for Annie, and what she accomplished: "I don't know if Iwould have had the courage."* *Her voice is so clear and steady now that she regularly gives publictalks. If you are lucky enough to know the Glenns, the sight and sound ofthem bantering and joking with each other and playfully finishing eachothers' sentences is something that warms you and makes you thankful just tobe in the same room.* *Monday will be the anniversary of the Mercury space shot, and onceagain, people will remember, and will speak of the heroism of Glenn theastronaut.* *But if you ever find yourself at an event where the Glenns areappearing, and you want to see someone so brimming with pride and love thatyou may feel your own tears start to well up, wait until the moment thatAnnie stands to say a few words to the audience.* *And as she begins, take a look at her husband's eyes.* *Good story for a change!* ------------------------------ __._,_.___ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ . __,_._,___ -- -- USE INCREDIMAIL ONLY IN THIS GROUP NO NUDITY ALLOWED --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "fiftiesoldiesmusicgroup" group. 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