November 22, 1963

If you were alive on November 22, 1963 and not too young, I am positive you know exactly what you were doing at 12:30 PM Central Standard Time when you heard the news bulletin. I was at my boyfriend's house for lunch between college classes.

I could not believe that John Fitzgerald Kennedy had been shot. We sat holding hands, watching the shocked newsmen reporting the story. Looking back it seems so appropriate that most people were watching on black and white televisions. But when I saw the color photographs of Jackie in her blood-splattered pink suit, it was even more horrific.

There are other images which come to mind:


Jackie watching as Lyndon Johnson is sworn in as President

Jackie, Caroline, and John John watching JFK's coffin

John John saluting his father's coffin

Riderless horse with boots facing backwards

Jackie walking behind JFK's coffin



My family spent all our waking hours watching TV. I don't remember at what point we decided to drive to Washington from our home in western Pennsylvania. But I do remember the feeling that we had to go to DC to view his casket in the Rotunda.

JFK lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda

It was a long wait during a bitterly cold night. There were hundreds of thousands lining up. At one point the lines stretched 40 blocks up to 10 people across. The final estimate was that 250,000 people came and some waited over 10 hours.

I don't remember how many hours we waited because it didn't matter. What mattered was that everyone was there to show their respect and love for a man who we felt was the hope for the world.

I do remember how quiet the line was. I think that we were all in shock.

What would the world be like if he had lived?