I join all Americans in mourning the loss of my Senate colleague and good friend John Glenn – a steadfast voice of patriotism and one of our greatest Americans.

John is one of the best and bravest men I’ve ever known. He went to war, went into space, and then he went to Washington where he served the people of Ohio in the Senate for more than two decades, always fighting for the principles he believed in.

His decision to return to space again – more than three decades after his flight around the world on “Friendship 7” – was yet another testament to his character and his deep commitment to his country.

His life will always serve as an inspiration all Americans who believe that the boundaries of human knowledge, curiosity, and exploration know no limits.