The Date that Lives in “Infamy” for ME
It’s still so surreal the vivid memory forever etched in my mind of that day 60 years ago today when Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy.
FDR, in his speech before a joint session of Congress on December 8, 1941, which led to our finally entering WWII, referred to the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan on December 7th as “a date which will live in infamy”. For me, personally, the date which still lives in “infamy” and for many if not most of you is, November 22, 1963, when our President, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated in Dallas. The state funeral for JFK was held on Monday, November 25th, and I was glued, along with my mom and dad, to our TV from beginning to end. I will never ever forget the sounds and images of that day which will forever be etched in my memory. Specifically, the “pomp and circumstance” surrounding this extremely sad and tragic event, the ever-present non-stop dirge from the pounding drum cadence along with the clatter of horse hooves on pavement as the Cassion carrying the casket of JFK moved so slowly towards its final resting place at ANC, the playing of Chopin’s 1837 “Funeral March”, and the rider less horse, Black Jack, exhibiting reversed boots as a symbol of a fallen leader–still so vivid, still so real after what is 60 years ago! I’m certain each and every one of us know exactly the moment and where we were when we first heard the unbelievable news that in America, “the land of the free and the home of the brave”, our President had been mercilessly assassinated. Please, if you will, allow me to digress. Having grown up in Colonial Village, and attending Wilson Elementary, I recall being a school safety patrol from the 4th-6th grades where my mom took great pride in washing, starching, and ironing my safety patrol belt so I could best represent being a safety patrol. I believe I can recall going to a camp for patrols during my 4th grade summer along with very good friend from Wilson Elementary. I’m not recollecting where the camp was held and for how long, but I know I attended along with many others from many other schools from around VA. I matriculated through the rankings of a safety patrol and attained the rank of captain during my 6th grade year. Beginning with my 5th grade year, I was given a daily special assignment, since I lived in Colonial Village, where I escorted a group of kindergarteners twice a day from school crossing Wilson Boulevard, as kindergarten “back in the day” was held in two half-day sessions, with the assistance of our crossing guard, Mrs. Matthews, who exemplified the epitome of her position as she was always so professionally dressed with perfect hair and makeup making absolutely sure you were safe–a true lady! Escorting these youngsters down Wilson Boulevard passing the Wilson Theatre and continuing to the Gulf gas station at Rhodes St, crossing there at the traffic light and releasing them at the People’s Drug Store. Of course, after the afternoon session was released, I would merely trot up the hill to our apartment on Troy Street. Fast forward to the afternoon of November 22, 1963, and I’ve just released my morning group of kindergarteners at People’s. My standard practice was to run into the store, say “hi” to Miss May, who ran the snack bar, and return promptly to school. However, on this Friday, I overheard some extremely alarming chatter concerning the shooting and probable death of our President in Dallas. Emotionally shaken, I ran back to school and immediately went to the school office where I recounted what I thought I had heard with the school secretary, Mrs. Wolfe. She escorted me into the Mr. Principi’s office, our principal, where he compassionately explained the circumstances surrounding what our country, the United States of America, was going to be going through. He asked me to return to my sixth-grade classroom where, Mrs. McDowell, was my teacher, remain calm and not discuss with anyone what I knew as school was going to be released early for all the obvious reasons. I truly did my best in attempting to cover up my emotions, but it was extremely difficult. I knew for certain the Earth would stand still that day, but for some unknown reason, it didn’t, and I still don’t know why–as my world certainly did.
Where were you when you first heard of the assassination and describe your feelings?