For half a century, the world has applauded John Glenn as a

heart-stirring American hero. He lifted the nation's spirits when, as one of

the original Mercury 7 astronauts, he was blasted alone into orbit around

the Earth; the enduring affection for him is so powerful that even now

people find themselves 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 who

he 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 of

Glenn's flight into orbit. We are being reminded that, half a century down

the 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 seldom

cheered. It belongs to the person he has known longer than he has known

anyone 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 the

families 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 having

what it took to rise to the absolute pinnacle of American regard during the

space race; imagine what it meant to be the young John Glenn in the small

confines of New Concord.



Three-sport varsity athlete, most admired boy in town, Mr. Everything.



Annie Castor was bright, was caring, was talented, was generous of

spirit. But she could talk only with the most excruciating of difficulty. It

haunted 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 laughed

at. She was not able to speak on the telephone. She could not have a regular

conversation with a friend.



And John Glenn loved her.



Even as a boy he was wise enough to understand that people who could

not see past her stutter were missing out on knowing a rare and wonderful

girl.



They married on April 6, 1943. As a military wife, she found that life

as she and John moved around the country could be quite hurtful. She has

written: "I can remember some very painful experiences -- especially the

ridicule."



In department stores, she would wander unfamiliar aisles trying to

find the right section, embarrassed to attempt to ask the salesclerks for

help. In taxis, she would have to write requests to the driver, because she

couldn't speak the destination out loud. In restaurants, she would point to

the 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 John

had two children; she has written: "Can you imagine living in the modern

world and being afraid to use the telephone? 'Hello' used to be so hard for

me 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 and

90 during the Korean War. Every time he was deployed, he and Annie said

goodbye 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 the

Atlas 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 the

shuttle Discovery, it was an understandably tense time for them. What if

something happened to end their life together?



She knew what he would say to her before boarding the shuttle. He

did -- 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 her

stutter. None worked.



But in 1973, she found a doctor in Virginia who ran an intensive

program she and John hoped would help her. She traveled there to enroll and

to give it her best effort. The miracle she and John had always waited for

at last, as miracles will do, arrived. At age 53, she was able to talk

fluidly, and not in brief, anxiety-ridden, agonizing bursts.



John has said that on the first day he heard her speak to him with

confidence and clarity, he dropped to his knees to offer a prayer of

gratitude.



He has written: "I saw Annie's perseverance and strength through the

years 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 his

awe is reserved for Annie, and what she accomplished: "I don't know if I

would have had the courage."



Her voice is so clear and steady now that she regularly gives public

talks. If you are lucky enough to know the Glenns, the sight and sound of

them bantering and joking with each other and playfully finishing each

others' sentences is something that warms you and makes you thankful just to

be in the same room.



Monday will be the anniversary of the Mercury space shot, and once

again people will remember, and will speak of the heroism of Glenn the

astronaut.



But if you ever find yourself at an event where the Glenn's are

appearing, and you want to see someone so brimming with pride and love that

you may feel your own tears start to well up, wait until the moment that

Annie stands to say a few words to the audience.



And as she begins, take a look at her husband's eyes.



WOW!!! What a story

[redwitch]

What a beautiful love story! Thank you so very much for sharing the story of the Glenns.

[2BNTV]

Thank you for piosting an inspiring story of Annie Glenn.

Thw world does totally belong to the physically strong but to the emotionally strong also. To have the stamina to deal with this disability, is inspiring. To perservere through, and come out the other side of the tunnell, into the light.

For John and Annie Glenn:

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[Ecuadog]

Touching.

[missypie]

Beautiful and important to read

[Jaggy]

Great love story.. so why does it make me weepy?? Thanks for sharing.

[shcisamax]

He was supposed to speak in Columbus OH tomorrow evening with Charlie Rose hosting but, as I understand it, had a recent heart issue and will not be able to attend.
I had the extraordinary pleasure of sitting next to him at a dinner party about 25 years ago. He is not only a wonderful conversationalist but a charming gentleman. I am not surprised he is married to such a woman.

[coralway]

There's something to be said for marrying an older woman.