President John F. Kennedy

November 22, 1963 – This was the day that the earth stood still – not only the United States but worldwide. A vibrant young President with beautiful young family was assassinated.

Almost immediately there were those who speculated that the death of John F. Kennedy was the result of a conspiracy. There are just as many trains of thought that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.

I have not read any of the hundreds of books published about JFK’s assassination. All the information that I have obtained about the assassination has been through watching documentaries or authors appearing on shows promoting their books. The irony is that both sides make convincing arguments.

One of our regular readers and letter writers to our paper is a firm believer of the conspiracy theory.

It is up to you to determine if the evidence Orlando presented in his letter is feasible.

As a grade school student, I remember being on the playground during recess. All of a sudden we were called into the school where an announcement was made that the President was shot.

Being so young and remembering how vibrant, athletic and handsome the President was, I turned to one of my classmates and said, “He’ll be okay.”

“I can’t recall if I was home or still in school when his death was announced.

In the next few days, the earth stood still – at least to me. I’m sure I’m not the only one who felt that way.

Lee Harvey Oswald was thought to be the lone assassin was quickly apprehended. Then before you knew it, Oswald was killed by a nightclub owner named Jack Ruby as Oswald was being led by local police to a vehicle to transport Oswald to another facility. How was Ruby able to gain access to an area where there was high security? How did he know when and where Oswald would be transferred? All of a sudden we saw the shooting live on TV.

John F. Kennedy’s funeral was on November 25, 1963 just three short days after he was assassinated.

I can picture all of this as if it was yesterday. Kennedy’s widow, Jackie showing her strength through a stoic veiled face. Her young son, John Jr., saluting his Dad as the casket passed for the last time. Her young daughter, Caroline, behaving like a perfect young lady.

The Kennedy brothers walking with Jackie behind the horse-drawn Caisson carrying the President to his final resting place.

In one of the most memorable speeches that President Kennedy was remembered for in his short term echoed these words: “My fellow Americans, ask not what your Country can do for you, ask what you can do for your Country.”

It is those who serve in the armed forces and ordinary citizens who help their fellow man to preserve our freedom who live up to those words. C.M.