before he was an astronaut,

john glenn served as a military pilot during world war II and the korean war.

before leaving for combat missions, he always told his wife annie,

“i’m just going to the corner store to get a pack of gum.”

she always replied, “don’t be long.”

—

” the return makes one love the farewell. “

-alfred de musset

–

farewell john glenn, one of my heroes.

—

credits: cnn.com, mental floss, washington post