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Mattis Receives Ohio State University's Excellence in Public Service Award

Secretary of Defense James Mattis
Secretary of Defense James Mattis / Getty Images
June 21, 2017

Secretary of Defense James Mattis on Tuesday received the 2017 Excellence in Public Service Award from Ohio State University's John Glenn College of Public Affairs.

Mattis received the award at the National Press Club and praised the former senator from Ohio, John Glenn, who was also an astronaut and Marine, according to the Pentagon.

Glenn died in December 2016 at 95 years old. His daughter, Lynn Glenn, said that Glenn was an admirer of Mattis, "not just that he's a Marine, but also because he's a tremendous patriot and has been a patriot like Dad for all his life. That's been his commitment."

Lynn Glenn also spoke of her father's respect for Mattis because he went to visit Gold Star mothers and her family after her father died. Lynn Glenn presented Mattis with a needlepoint stick of Doublemint gum that she made. She said she made needlepoint for those who have been close to her family and father.

Mattis praised Glenn's example of public service upon receiving the award, calling him a role model.

"I do not have the words to fully express my admiration and respect for Lynn's father, for Annie's husband, for a man who did what he did. We all need role models in this world," Mattis said. "We all need them, because they inspire us. They remind us that if we look at someone like this, we can always be better the next day. We all need a code, and the role models we choose to remind us of what we can be in this country give us so many beautiful opportunities."

The dean of John Glenn College of Public Affairs, Trevor Brown, also praised Mattis at the event.

"There's no question that Secretary Mattis is deserving of this award tonight," Brown said. "This is in part the college's way to fulfill its commitment to the senator, to bind someone he revered in his life to the life of the college."

Mattis said during his speech that the award was not about him.

"It's not about me," Mattis said. "It's about public service. We're trying to build a country here, and it's never done."

Published under: James Mattis , Marines