Remembering
On November 22, 1963, the Human was a 13-year-old 8th-grader at Sacred Heart elementary school in Sacramento, California. Shortly before lunch, the Sister of Mercy who was the principal came into her classroom and told the teacher and students that President Kennedy had been shot. Not very many minutes later, the grainy black-and-white classroom TV delivered the punch to the gut: This handsome, young, Catholic president was dead.
She can hardly believe it has been fifty years. It's a cliché
to say so, but she remembers that day, and the three that followed, with astonishing clarity. Nothing since has affected her quite so much, not deaths in her own immediate family, nor subsequent assassinations, nor wars, nor earthquakes, nor 9/11. It was, she thinks, for her and for so many Boomers, the abrupt end of childhood innocence and the rosy optimism of "Camelot."
28 comments:
The end of not just an era, but of a generation's optimism, as well.
I was taught by Sisters of Mercy although I was four when he was shot. Despite my memory losses from my brain surgeries I still have vivid remembrances of watching the funeral on TV. The horses pulling the casket in particular.
President Kennedy was Pop's idol growing up. He even acquired the MA accent. Both my peeps remember being called into the hall for an announcement. Teachers were crying. They'll never forget that day. Being in NY, they can't forget 9/11 which profoundly affected them. Last night Pop was screaming in his sleep from 9/11 memories and nightmares. Sad.
We cannot imagine how this must have been, and the impact it has since had. Thank you for this post.
My mom was nine and in fourth grade, and she remembers it much the same way: the assistant principal, looking quite ashen, coming in to the classroom to tell the teacher, Someone's just shot the president. Classes were dismissed for the day for her and her sister (our Aunt L, in junior high at the time); President Kennedy was dead by the time they got home. Her eldest sister even came home from college in Boston that afternoon, and the family all went to church that night. It is hard to believe it was 50 years ago when it still stuns those of us old enough to remember.
I was in 3rd grade and in class on the Quantico, VA Marine Corps base when Kennedy was shot. There was a black phone on the wall in each class and when it rang everyone knew someone was in trouble because the phone was a direct line to the principal's office. After speaking to the principal our teacher faced the class and she was in tears. In less an hour the buses lined up outside the school and we were all sent home. A few days later my family went to his funeral in Arlington Cemetery. To see that white horse pass by with Kennedy's boots in the stirrups is a heartbreaking memory to this day.
I only heard and saw it on tv. Thanks for this post and for all the comments. It was very interesting for me to read what people thought at this moment. And I learnt more from you than from all the documentations.
Our people are a little too young to been part of this, but Lady's parents, who are Canadian have similar memories to your Human. It was sort of the first big television tragedy and it changed our North American culture in many ways. Lee and Phod
Still such a powerful image and a sad day for America.
Your posts are ready for Sunday and when you get a moment can you send me your nomination for Sunday week.
Have a fabulous Friday.
best wishes Molly
Well said....and precisely how I feel to this day about that day in November. I was in my 11th grade English class when they announced it over the intercom in school. Nobody moved - nobody breathed - nobody spoke - we were all in total disbelief and that continued for days. It was absolutely the end of many things for we Boomers and for the country at large I think.
Pam
Had to have an impact on all, but none of us were even around then
Our mom cannot read about or watch anything on TV about that day 50 years ago without getting goose bumps, and she has them right now. She was a 14-year-old freshman at DelMar High School in San Jose, California. She was in Study Hall. The teacher was Mrs. Legg. A senior, Guy Marks, came into the room at stopped at the table by the door, where Mom was sitting, and whispered to Mom and the girl sitting next to her that President Kennedy had been shot and was dead. Then he went and told the teacher. Like your mom, Spitty, it is indelibly imprinted on her brain. When Kennedy was campaigning, Mom's mom had taken her to see him in downtown San Jose. Though Mom remembers both 9/11 and the Challenger explosion with just as much clarity, nothing will ever compare to that fateful day when the world lost John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
It's hard to believe how quickly times passes. Sad that we still do not know exactly what happened after 5 decades.
I, too was a 13 yo, 8th grade student in Sacred Heart Academy. We were in PE class. The news came over the PA system. We knelt on the gym floor and said a prayer for the President. Seeing the news stories on TV...it brings it all back like it was just yesterday. We lost so much that day.
I too was in high school. A Catholic high school. I was taught by the Sisters of Mercy. We were attending Mass when the word came over the PA about the President. I have never forgotten that day or those that followed.
I too was in high school. A Catholic high school. I was taught by the Sisters of Mercy. We were attending Mass when the word came over the PA about the President. I have never forgotten that day or those that followed.
My Dad remembers too. But I think he is old enough to remember the Lincoln one too.
Spitty this was beautiful of your human to post this. My Mom remembers it vividly too. It was so sad. Mom was in 2nd grade and she remembers looking at the clock when they told her, right before they sent the class home early. She remembers her parents crying. It was so sad. Tonight Brian Williams is having a special at 9pm that my Mom is gonna watch. Maybe your human will want to watch too. Love, Cody
Mum is glad she was too young to witness this, it must have been so upsetting :( Lovely post Spitty!
Love Milo :)
It is hard to believe it's been that many years. I was just five but I also vividly remember it. Thanks for posting this.
I wasn't alive when this happened, but I do remember my parents speaking about this and how it changed their loves forever.
Great post pal. M said she remembers the day very well too. She was frozen in front of the TV doing her ironing (home from work that day). She couldn't believe what she was seeing. M often wonders what great things he could have accomplished if he had lived.
The mom remembers that day too. She was in school...Catholic school like your human, Spitty...and she remembers an announcement was made and the nuns were all crying. We got let out of school early. It was a very sad time...and the world was changed forever.
Mom thinks it's sad that tragic events like this seem to get ingrained in your memory even stronger than the really joyous occasions. Kennedy inspired some great ideas and programs like the Peace Corps and moon landing. A great legacy.
Our mom was the same age as yours, and someone in class had a transistor radio and started a rumor that the president had been shot. It was just too bizarre to believe. And then about a half hour later the principal called an assembly and announced it, and sent everyone home. Our Mom's mom was crying when she got home. There was just so much sadness and shock. And the funeral was so moving.
It made for a very somber Thanksgiving that year.
a gift, from Mrs. Whatsername to The Human - Kennedy used to receite the last two lines at the end of his speeches. She of the mind that our country still has miles to go as well, and perhaps it is up to us to keep JFK's promise. I hope they can too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-_Z9LiXBx8
TBT was all upset an bothered Friday. We gave him purrs and dint do annything ta upset him.
Beautiful, Spitty. I remember like yesterday. I still wish for the truth surrounding those events and hope maybe then we can get some of the dream back and put an end to our loss of hope for the future of our nation.
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