On this day, February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_20

• 1962 – Mercury program: While aboard Friendship 7, John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the Earth, making three orbits in four hours, 55 minutes.

Tue Feb 20, 2024: On this day, February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth.

[doc03]

1. Saw him in the parade in his home town

New Concord Ohio. I was 13 years old.

[rurallib]

2. I must have been. in 6th or 7th grade

Vague memories of a TV in the class-room watching something. Mostly IIRC it was radio contact with Houston.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. 6th grade for me. We were herded into the auditorium, where the school's television set was set up.

And good morning.

[rsdsharp]

4. I was in second grade. It was colder than hell in northeastern Iowa that day.

They marched us across the snow covered playground to the Manual Arts Building. I think we watched it in the second floor gym, which was the only room large enough to hold eight classes of baby boomers (K-6th with a second 1st grade class) and their teachers.