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JFK Assassination Anniversary
By Guestbook Collective
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Nat Bodian:
Coming up on Nov. 22 is the 40th anniversary of the assassination of President
Kennedy. It might be a timely occasion for us to look back at that
eventful day and era, and to reflect on what he meant to America, his
accomplishments during his shortened presidency, and what each of us was doing
on that ill-fated day.
Back on No. 22, 1963, I was
employed in the N. Y. office of a European scholarly publisher. I heard
about the assassination on 42nd Street as I was returning from lunch to my
office on 52 Vanderbilt Avenue.
Our office manager of a staff of
five was an English-born lady and a British subject, who had often made known to
us that Americans lacked culture and that everything British was better.
On my return to the office I told her the president had been shot and was dead.
At that time, our American company
president was on holiday and I was the senior in-house staffer, and in charge.
On hearing the news, she coolly looked at me and asked: "Shall I send the girls
home? ... After all, he WAS your president." Of course we did... but I
will never forget her reaction and that unconcerned look.
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It is just a little over week to
the 40th anniversary of that tragedy in Dallas. It would be interesting to
many of us, I think, to see posted here, some personal recollections from
Guestbookers who are also able to recall that Nov. 22 day in 1963 -- especially
those who were in Newark at that time.
 | Marytee:
I remember being in the bath room combing my hair-------the t. v. was on and
we were listening to the ft. ball game when all hell broke loose. The
words -blaring aloud that J. F. K. had been shot and I went to see the screen
when they showed Jackie hovering over J. F. K.-the limo was racing along
trying to get out of the area. Total shock went through our house hold
as well as the world. It felt like we were in a time warp-we were in denial
and in tears. Camelot came to an abrupt halt. The camera men were
trying to find the shooter or shooters-people were crying every where a camera
went. History was made but so sad a day as well as the days that
followed.
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| Jim T:
I was a jr. in Belleville High School an they made an announcement on the PA
system
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| Dee:
Just as Jim, except that I was a freshman in ESHS, the announcement that
President Kennedy had just been shot, was made over the PA System. Not a
sound was heard in the classrooms, or the hallways. Within a short time
after that, the announcement was made that the President had died. We
were all dismissed from school...everyone leaving the classrooms with
disbelief on their faces, and walking like Zombies...and others weeping and
sobbing openly. When my brother and I got home, we found our parents
already in front of the TV...is how all four of us then were, glued in front
of the TV, for the next 3 days...still not wanting to believe what happened.
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| Nat Bodian:
Marytee:
Yes, as you say, "Camelot came to an abrupt halt" ... and its reigning Queen,
Jacqueline Kennedy, and the glamour she brought to the White House was no
more.
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| rich:
All, As a 7 year old 3rd grader at St. Benedict's Grammar School, Down Neck ,
I clearly remember our Principal, Sr. Veronica standing atop the landing of
the fire escape which led to the 2nd floor auditorium loudly ringing a hand
held bell. It was afternoon recess and I recall thinking that time was
up too fast, and then we were rounded up by class and headed off to our
classrooms where the announcement was made over the PA system the JFK was
shot. School was dismissed, and we all went home. My mother, in
tears, watching the television saying to my older brother and me "The
President is dead! Oh my God, They've shot the President! "My father was
home early from work and as a family we sat glued to that TV set, our world
had changed that dark November Day. I have a copy of the Newark News
Magazine from the 1st Anniversary of JFK's assassination, I'll try to
reduce/copy it and forward to Glenn.
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| Seymour Pierce:
Nat, a very sad anniversary it is. "Oh, what might have been". It
was such an ordinary day, as I recall [ Nov.22, 1963], until the reports of
the terrible events in Dallas started to come over the radio and TV. For
a fleeting moment I might have recalled Orson Welles' "the War of The Worlds"
radio broadcast. However, these reports were the horrible truths.
When Walter Cronkite said "President Kennedy had died "! it later brought to
mind, one fond memory. Three years earlier, one bright, sunny November
day [Nov. 6 1960 ], working, Main PO downtown Newark. We learned that a
Democrat candidate was having a "motorcade" past City Hall. We all
rushed out to see our future president. He was in an open car waving as
they do. He had the appearance, air of confidence, and charisma of a
young handsome movie star. I could understand, years later where John
Jr. got some of his great looks. That is another story of another tragic
loss. Youth, with so much to offer.
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| MARGARET JOOST:
I was having my hair done at Woodward and Lothrop in D. C. Several
of the operators who were there said something to the effect that the
president had been shot in the head. It was very eloquently put and I
was upset. I still didn't believe it even after I left the store, I saw
Walter Cronkite making the announcement on a TV in the store but it really hit
home as I was passing the Bureau of Engraving on 14th St. on my way to
crossing the bridge into Arlington. The flag was being lowered to half
staff. We were really in a fog. The cemetery was just down the
street from our apartment on Columbia Pike and we spent the coldest day in the
cemetery on the day the President was buried.
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| Jule Spohn:
Hello everyone. I was a personal body guard for President and Mrs.
Kennedy during their trip to Mexico in June of 1962. I had just finished
graduating from the Marine Security Guard School in Arlington Virginia and was
awaiting my visa to go overseas to work as a Marine Security Guard at the
American Embassy in Seoul, Korea. Out of a class of 60 or so there were
seven of us who were waiting for our visas to come through. We were
attached to the State Department. They took the seven of us, in civilian
clothes, weapons and all, and had us go to Mexico along with the Secret
Service to guard the President. I have a wonderful letter from President
Kennedy and the American Ambassador to Mexico thanking me for my service
framed and hanging on my den wall.
I was in Korea, at the Embassy, sleeping, when at around 4 in the morning the
news first broke on at Armed Forces Radio Station, a year later, when the
President was shot. Shortly thereafter we received a call from the
Marines on duty at the Embassy for all of us at the house to get down there
right away. The U. S. military all around the world went on alert and
for the next several days we had all of the big-shot Koreans coming to the
American Embassy to sign a "Guest book" we had set up there.
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| Mary Ellen:
Yes...indeed that was a sad day in history! I was enrolling my little
girl in a day care facility when I heard it on the radio. We took a cab
home and the driver was crying.
What followed was heart wrenching and obviously never forgotten by those of us
who saw the whole thing on TV.
Mrs. Kennedy was a class act...when she showed us all the White House it
solidified the moment forever. Most of us never saw the inside and I for
one was grateful that she helped us to witness something so special.
The days following the assassination were sad for the entire universe.
What a lovely moment we had before our world came crashing down on us.
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| Sam:
I was at work. It was 1pm. The announcement came over our page
system. We all stood still, did not make a sound. My place of
business closed for the funeral. My place never closes, not even for snow
storms. Saw the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald live on TV. Guess
everyone did!
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| Nicky G:
I was driving my cab down Clinton Ave. at the time when it came over the two
way radio
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| Mary Ellen:
Jule...you never cease to amaze me with your "moments in time"! You were
an honor guard for JFK and the lovely Mrs. Kennedy...of course you were!
Would you be anything less? I can bet that you could write a book about
your life and we all wouldn't be able to put the book down because it was so
good!
Must be the Newark in you...right?
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| Jule Spohn:
Hello Mary Ellen. I have had an interesting life - not over yet though.
Thanks for the kind words.
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| Tony DiGiesi:
Hi All:
I was also at work like many others on that fateful day. I have a piece
of me still back there in Dallas forever in time.
The Kennedy's also made me feel for the first time really connected to this
Country in a special way. The stillness could be felt for days the
disbelief and sorrow.
John, Jackie and their children & family, will forever be a part of History.
The loss to this country is unfathomable.
Thank you all for sharing and remembering the Kennedy's and all the countless
others who gave their lives in service to this great Country. And are
still doing so today in Iraq and elsewhere. And also for sharing your
personal thoughts and remembrances. And the Legacy that was "Camelot".
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| Bob Miller:
I remember I was outside our auto dealership and was just closing a sale on a
new car, when a UPS truck drove up and the driver asked if we'd heard that the
president had been shot. We all dashed inside and put the radio on just in
time to hear the announcer say that it was now official - the president was
dead. I don't remember very much about the rest of the day. The shock was
tremendous and one of the saddest days in our history
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| Nat Bodian:
T h a n k y o u a l l for your prompt responses to my
reminder here yesterday about the upcoming 40th anniversary of JFK's death.
You have all made a piece of American history come alive and provided personal
insights for others to share that they will never find in the history books. |
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