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Glenn to Lie in State in Ohio Capital

Flags fly at half-staff outside the John & Annie Glenn Museum, Dec. 9, 2016, in New Concord, Ohio.
Flags fly at half-staff outside the John & Annie Glenn Museum, Dec. 9, 2016, in New Concord, Ohio.

The late space hero and former U.S. Sen. John Glenn will lie in state in the Ohio Statehouse and a memorial service is being planned at Ohio State University.

Hank Wilson of the John Glenn School of Public Affairs in Columbus said the date and time are still being worked out but the public viewing and other services are expected to take place early next week. A "celebration of life'' will be held at OSU's Mershon Auditorium.

Burial is being planned at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington.

Glenn became a national hero in 1962 when he became the first American to orbit the Earth. He died Thursday at age 95.

In Photos: John Glenn

John Glenn, First Astronaut to Orbit the Earth, Dies at 95

On Feb. 20, 2013, we remember the 51st anniversary of the flight of Friendship 7, which vaulted NASA astronaut John Glenn into space to orbit the Earth for the first time in history.
1/14 On Feb. 20, 2013, we remember the 51st anniversary of the flight of Friendship 7, which vaulted NASA astronaut John Glenn into space to orbit the Earth for the first time in history.
FILE - John Glenn in flight suit
2/14 FILE - John Glenn in flight suit
President Barack Obama congratulates former United States Marine Corps pilot, astronaut, and United States Senator John Glenn after presenting him with a Medal of Freedom, May 29, 2012, during a ceremony at the White House in Washington.
3/14 President Barack Obama congratulates former United States Marine Corps pilot, astronaut, and United States Senator John Glenn after presenting him with a Medal of Freedom, May 29, 2012, during a ceremony at the White House in Washington.
Sen. John Glenn, left, and Apollo 11 Astronaut Neil Armstrong are seen prior to the start of a dinner at Ohio State University that honored the 50th anniversary of John Glenn's historic flight aboard Friendship 7 in Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 20, 2012.
4/14 Sen. John Glenn, left, and Apollo 11 Astronaut Neil Armstrong are seen prior to the start of a dinner at Ohio State University that honored the 50th anniversary of John Glenn's historic flight aboard Friendship 7 in Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 20, 2012.
Former U.S. Senator and astronaut John Glenn (C) waves to the crowd at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center for the arrival of space shuttle Discovery (back) while former shuttle commanders applaud in Virginia, April 19, 2012.
5/14 Former U.S. Senator and astronaut John Glenn (C) waves to the crowd at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center for the arrival of space shuttle Discovery (back) while former shuttle commanders applaud in Virginia, April 19, 2012.
STS-95 payload specialist John Glenn works with the Osteporosis Experiment in Orbit (OSTEO) experiment located in a locker in the Discovery's middeck, Nov. 18, 1998.
6/14 STS-95 payload specialist John Glenn works with the Osteporosis Experiment in Orbit (OSTEO) experiment located in a locker in the Discovery's middeck, Nov. 18, 1998.
Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, answers questions from the press in Jackson, Mississippi, Jan. 18, 1984.
7/14 Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, answers questions from the press in Jackson, Mississippi, Jan. 18, 1984.
Sen. John Glenn (D-Ohio) and wife, Anne, wave to crowd that attended a fund raiser in Houston, Dec. 16, 1982. Glenn is exploring the possibility of running for the Democratic nomination for President.
8/14 Sen. John Glenn (D-Ohio) and wife, Anne, wave to crowd that attended a fund raiser in Houston, Dec. 16, 1982. Glenn is exploring the possibility of running for the Democratic nomination for President.
FILE - John Glenn, standing next to his Friendship 7 capsule in which he made his historic orbital flight, meets with President John F. Kennedy. Mrs. Glenn stands next to her husband.
9/14 FILE - John Glenn, standing next to his Friendship 7 capsule in which he made his historic orbital flight, meets with President John F. Kennedy. Mrs. Glenn stands next to her husband.
FILE - U.S. President John F. Kennedy pays tribute to astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. for his February 1962 flight aboard Friendship 7. The Mercury-Atlas 6 mission marked the free world's first orbital manned flight.
10/14 FILE - U.S. President John F. Kennedy pays tribute to astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. for his February 1962 flight aboard Friendship 7. The Mercury-Atlas 6 mission marked the free world's first orbital manned flight.
A camera onboard the "Friendship 7" Mercury spacecraft photographs astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. during his historic flight, Feb. 20, 1962.
11/14 A camera onboard the "Friendship 7" Mercury spacecraft photographs astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. during his historic flight, Feb. 20, 1962.
Astronaut John H. Glenn, Jr., undergoes a simulated orbital flight as part of his training for Project Mercury in the Manned Spacecraft Center's procedure trainer at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, Nov. 29, 1961.
12/14 Astronaut John H. Glenn, Jr., undergoes a simulated orbital flight as part of his training for Project Mercury in the Manned Spacecraft Center's procedure trainer at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, Nov. 29, 1961.
On April 9, 1959, NASA introduced its first astronaut class, the Mercury 7.
13/14 On April 9, 1959, NASA introduced its first astronaut class, the Mercury 7.
Major John Glenn Jr., hugs his children, Dave and Lyn, while his wife, Anne, watches moments after Glenn landed at Floyd Bennett Field in New York following his record-breaking flight of just over 3 hours and 23 minutes from California, July 16, 1957.
14/14 Major John Glenn Jr., hugs his children, Dave and Lyn, while his wife, Anne, watches moments after Glenn landed at Floyd Bennett Field in New York following his record-breaking flight of just over 3 hours and 23 minutes from California, July 16, 1957.
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Former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio has added to the tributes for the late space hero.

Boehner says Americans for generations cheered Glenn as he soared into the heavens, and "now he has taken his place there for eternity, a well-earned reward for an American life well and heroically lived.''

Boehner says in a statement released Thursday evening by a spokesman that he offers his and his wife Debbie's condolences to Glenn's widow, Annie, and his family and joins fellow Ohioans in mourning.

President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump are among other leaders who have offered tributes to Glenn.

The residents of John Glenn's hometown in eastern Ohio say he never forgot where he came from and always made time talk with anyone who wanted to visit.

Flags around New Concord have been lowered and the university where he was a trustee held a moment of silence before a basketball game Thursday after the former astronaut and U.S. senator died earlier in the day.

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