Astronaut John Glenn laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery

Final funeral rites for astronaut John Glenn took place Thursday at Arlington National Cemetery.

His family and invited guests, including astronauts and dignitaries, said goodbye to the first American to orbit Earth at a small private service at the Old Post Chapel beginning at 9 a.m.

• Former astronaut, U.S. senator John Glenn dead at 95
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The U.S. Marine Corps began a live stream at 9:40 a.m. that included a processional to the graveside by caisson, a flyover, a graveside service and taps. 

There was a public outpouring for the former fighter pilot, history-making astronaut and longtime Democratic U.S. senator from small-town Ohio after he died on Dec. 8 at age 95.

Thousands of mourners visited his flag-draped casket as it lay in repose at the Ohio Statehouse for a longer period than assassinated President Abraham Lincoln and others in history.

After a funeral procession through the heart of Ohio's capital city, a "celebration of life" for Glenn drew roughly 2,500 people, including then-Vice President Joe Biden, current and former governors and many other dignitaries.

Those close to the family said they felt a sense of duty in allowing the public to mark Glenn's passing with the well-attended Ohio events, but they would like to reserve Thursday's burial service as a period for more personal mourning.

Glenn's widow, Annie, is 97. The two met in childhood in New Concord, Ohio, and have two children.

Glenn's pioneering Mercury 7 flight in 1962 made him an instant national hero. He became the oldest man in space when he returned aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 1998 at age 77.

He had many accomplishments outside of his career as an astronaut. He flew 149 missions as a Marine fighter pilot in World War II and Korea, broke the transcontinental air speed record, served 24 years in the U.S. Senate and founded the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at Ohio State University.