 |
"
It was the first time I had seen a man cry." -- Jim
Tripodi, Beaver, Pa.
"The
principal, Mr. Galvin, came into our classroom suddenly,
ashened faced." --Jim Silberman, New York
"I
had no idea what assassinated meant, but by the look
on my teacher's face, I knew it was really bad." --Raymond
R. Butler, Aberdeen, Scotland
"For
Catholics everywhere, the death of the first Catholic
President of the United States was doubly shocking."
-- Pierre Marion Beloeil, Quebec, Canada
"When
I arrived home, it was evident that my mother had been
crying as well." --Rick Pinter, Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada
|
I
was just seconds away from taking an American History test
at Vivian Field Junior High School in Farmers Branch. Our
teacher, Mr. Lewis, was called out into the hallway. He came
back a couple of minutes later and said that President Kennedy
and Governor Connely had been shot at. He left the room again.
There was a lot of nervous laughter and jokes about our janitor,
Mr. Dennis running across the grounds with a rifle in his
hands, kid stuff. We all thought the sniper had missed. A
few more minutes later Mr. Lewis came back with the formal
announcement that John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 36th President
of the United States, was dead. This announcement was followed
by a hugh collective intake of breath and then people started
crying. We sat in classes for a short time and then we were
dismissed for the day. One of my friends had just come back
from shaking President Kennedy's hand at Love Field and thought
we were kidding him when we told him the President had been
shot. For several years, whenever I told someone I was from
Dallas, they would want to know if I was living in Dallas
when Kennedy was shot. When I told them I had been, they would
either be curious or angry. In 1975, after graduating from
a Marine Corps training class, the Captain asked me where
I was from. I told him Dallas, because I knew he would not
know where Farmers Branch was. He looked at me for a moment
and then he said, "Well, I like Dallas..." Before I could
thank him, he finished his thought..."Even though the rest
of the world may not." As the years rolled on the Dallas Cowboys
became America's Team, Southfork was built and the SMU team
had that small problem with "pay for play." Slowly but surely
people began to not hold people living in Dallas on November
22, 1963 personally responsible. Michael Zimmerman I was in
a freshman English class in college in Columbus, Ga. and of
course we were released from class.
I
had just walked into a bank in Vincennes, Indiana when a teller
was telling everyone about what happened. Glenn Lawrence
I
was a senior at Texas Tech, and I was getting a haircut from
one of my neighbors in the dormitory, when we heard a commotion
out in the hall. People were shouting that the president had
been shot, so we immediately began listening to radios and
watching TV for reports, which verified the fact.
I
was on Main Street, with my sister, near the Southwestern
Life building where she worked. I was anxious to see both
Kennedy, the first President I had ever voted for, and Jackie.
I remember thinking, I'm going to really look at her because
I'll probably see him again when he runs for President again.
After the motorcade passed, we remarked that it seemed really
odd that Ralph Yarborough was riding with Lyndon Johnson -
because there was certainly no love lost between the two.
Then we walked to the Black Angus restaurant for lunch. I
was working at the Lakewood Branch of the Dallas Public Library
and attending college part-time, but I was off that day. We
ordered, and then immediately heard sirens. Both of us had
been very worried that something would happen because of the
shameful way that Adlai Stevenson had been treated in Dallas.
We left our lunches and went outside, walking toward Elm and
Lamar where our mother was working at Sanger's. We heard news
on various radios as we went down the street. I think we were
dazed. When we located our mother we got another shock. Our
dad, who had already had several heart attacks, had been taken
to Baylor Hospital. As it happened, he was fine - just a couple
of chest pains. We all went home for the worst weekend of
our lives.
I
was in school at the time. I was a senior in New Jersey and
all that I can remember was sitting in class listening to
the radio news broadcast over the schools PA system. I remember
it being quite quiet with just an occasional whisper.
I
was attending elementary school at B.F. Darrell School on
Hall St. We were getting ready to watch the parade on T.V.
IN HOMEROOM when the story that he was killed was pronounced
to us. Michael Fanner
I
was in my first grade class at Linfield elementry school &
on hearing the news my first grade teacher collapsed & had
to be helped out of our classroom. Charles Slagle
I
had taken my six year old son to a Christmas movie that afternoon.
I heard about the shooting upon leaving the theater and was
interviewed by a reporter. I remember babbling something like
"I'm a Republican but this is a terrible thing." I went to
a nearby store and watched television for a while. Then I
remember crying in the car as my son and I drove home from
the movies. Everyone was riveted to the television, and I
remember vividly the shock of seeing Oswald shot as it happened.
William N. Fernandez
I
was a sophomore at Northern Illinois U and was going to my
education block when I heard the news. I went to class where
the prof announced that "The President of the United States
has been assassinated. Class is dismissed." I proceeded to
the student union where we all listened to the radio broadcast
in silence over the PA system. The school closed later in
the day and we all went home for early Thanksgiving break
and a televised funeral we will never forget.
My
family had just moved from Garland to New Orleans that year
and I was in school. The office announced it over the loud
speaker. Everyone was crying and blaming it on the City of
Dallas. Jan Sloan Long Beach, California
I
was in school at Kaufman High School, Kaufman, TX on the day
of the shooting. I remember the school principal patching
in a radio broadcast to the school PA system. I remember the
announcer's words that the President was dead just as if I
heard them yesterday.
I
went to work at the Oklahoma City lawfirm where I was a secretary.
At 12:58 p.m. as I boarded an elevator in our building after
lunch, a rider informed those on board that President Kennedy
had been shot in Dallas. The office closed down and we didn't
return to work until the following week. My husband and I
were in a state of shock--especially me because I grew up
in Dallas and had moved to OKC only 13 months earlier. I was
also watching television as Ruby was shot. Except for attending
church on Sunday, it seems we sat in a stupor in front of
our set for days. DLW Midland, Texas
I
was 9 years old sitting in Mrs. Sealock's third grad class
in Grand Prairie, about 6-8 miles from the assasination. Our
principal, Mr Cain, announced that the motorcade had been
fired upon. About 30 minutes later, he came back and announced
that the president was dead. As strange as it sounds, my 9
year old mind spent thirty minutes wondering 'what is a motorcade?'.
Our parents showed up and school was dismissed. That weekend
in Dallas, the only television was of the dealings in Dallas.
The memory of that weekend is vividly clear.
I
was in second grade on the playground of Houston Elementary
when the news started filtering throughout the school. At
that time I don't believe I comprehended the situation but
more fully understood while watching the funeral on TV. What
I seem to remember most is the stigma of traveling out of
state and telling people that we were from near Dallas. Attitudes
changed and shoulders grew cold. For a time it wasn't a proud
moment to be from the DFW area. Dave Myers formerly of Grand
Praire
On
the date in question, I was stationed at Minot AFB in North
Dakota. I had finished a 12 hours night shif on a Minuteman
Missile Site. I woke up that afternoon and was informed that
we were in an alert status and that President Kennedy had
been shot. I had only been in the Air Force since the 12th
of July 1963. Enlisting in the Air Force just out of high
school. As a follow up on Oswald. I was back on the base and
in the day room and saw Oswald get killed on live TV.
It
was my seventeeth birthday ,I cried most of the day,it was
a very sad day in my life.
I
WAS ON THE 26TH FLOOR OF A BANK BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION
AT ELM AND FIELD IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS...
I
was a Dallas Police Officer assigned to the patrol division.
I was dispatched to the assissination location , code 3. I
witnessed the crowd reaction and was the officer that first
contacted Mr. Zapruder regarding the pictures he took. I viewed
the film at Kodak where it was first developed. The events
of that day changed my life. The shock, grief and outrage
of the Nation startrd at Dealy Plaza and spread like a wave
across the world.
On
Nov. 22, 1963, I was in the 6th grade in Duke, Oklahoma. I
remember my teacher telling us of the assassination, she was
very shook up. From that moment on, learning was not even
a thought and for days and weeks everyone tried to understand
WHY!
Sitting
in a English Literature lecture class at the University of
Oregon. Heard the bells tolling and could not figure out what
was going on.
I
was in 6th grade Mrs. Rebovich's class at Saint Joe's Catholic
elementary school in Roselle, N.J. It was about a half-hour
after the afternoon session had begun (which was about 1:25
p.m., Easter Daylight Time) We were watching a "travelogue"
on slide film about Scotland, when suddenly Mother Superior
began speaking over the loud speaker, & which had also included
live radio news voices that Mother Superior must have wanted
all to hear. Nothing was quite so discernible at first, but
after several moments (or a couple of minutes) it became clear
that something very awful happened. A short time later we
were all seated in extreme quietness, the quietness of great
shock. The Saint Joe's CHURCH bell rang out with a very mournful
CLANG (slow) - CLANG (slow) etc. All the nuns & teachers were
so upset; emotionally, I was rather innocent and did not cry.
I think I was just unable to personally register the tragicNESS
of it. But, one girl in my class (her name was Karen) cried
a great deal, - even uncontollably (but not hysterically).
In fact, she was the only one of about 40 classmates (it was
a large class) who cried amid that deep, collective silence.
Looking back, I'd say that I feel rather envious of Karen,
for being able to have such deep feeling, such intense emotion...
i
was walking down town in el paso, tx., when i walked past
a store with the tv in the front display window. i was 21
years old at the time, and i remember the incident as if it
happened yesterday. later, during the week, there was a memorial
service which i attended. such a horrible thing to remember
about our beautiful country.
My
name is Gara Anderson. I was a student at the University of
Southwestern Louisiana. I commuted to the campus every day.
Nov. 22 that year was the first anniversary of marriage for
my husband's best friend. Our anniversary was on the 23rd.
On Nov 22, 1963 I was in the student union building eating
a sandwich for lunch. I looked at my watch and it was almost
for the tv soap opera As the World Turns which I watched up
in the lounge. I went to the lounge and was greeted by someone
as I neared the tv. I was told that there was a special announcement
that President Kennedy was shot in Dallas and that he had
been rushed to a hospital. We were waiting for update of what
was happening with him. I was stunned, shocked, seemed to
move in slow motion toward a place to sit and watch the tv
for more news. That weekend, my husband of one year and his
best friend and wife also married one year were planning to
celebrate together by going out to dinner and dancing. We
went out to eat but skipped the dancing...who felt like it?
We spent the rest of the weekend glued to the tv watching
everything that was televised concerning the event. We watched
every minute of the funeral...(I thought it is so unusual
to spend a weekend watching a televised funeral) We were watching
when Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald on camera. Do you realize
we were all witnesses to a murder. Later I read books about
the event, especially those trying to solve the mysteries
in the event.
I
was in the fourth grade when a teacher ran in and said that
the President had been shot. We were all stunned, staring
at each other, thinking not the President. In 1963 that kind
of thing was unthinkable to a kid nine years old. Dwight Dillard,
Blue Springs School near Opp, Alabama
i
was a sophmore in high school i was in the caferteria and
saw people crying i asked why and was told about kennedy..
everyboy was huddled around the tv in our school when kennedy
died we were let out. i had to ride the bus here in memphis
tn i have never seen it rain as hard as it did when kennedy
died.. i think God was crying to.
Nearly
everyone remembers their whereabouts during this grim event.
I was an eight year old third grade student at Roosevelt Elementary
school in Newark, Ohio. Our teacher, Ms. Robinson was very
emotionally moved when our principal announced that the President
had been shot in Dallas, Texas and we were all to proceed
home at once. It was a grave day when all family members needed
to be together, waiting for word about his condition. When
we finally heard he was dead, I was in total dis-belief. How
could this be? I believe we were all in shock, every member
of our society, regardless of political ties. As children,
we saw John John (JFK, Jr.)and Caroline in many of the news
reports and we all felt a sense of loss for them because we
were close to their age. I remember the whole event as a sort
of slow motion "dream state" that seemed to float as the days
passed until the funeral. Only then do I remember the country
starting to return to normal.
I
was in junior high school(we live in NC) and they announced
it over the intercom and then we were dismissed. We did not
go back to school until after the funeral. Being young, it
was hard for us to understand exactly what was transpiring.
There was lots of discussion with teachers. I think being
young and not understanding the true meaning of death brings
to mind "ignorance is bliss". CR in NC
I
was a ninth grader in Beaver Falls, PA. We were in science
class, waiting for our teacher to arrive, which was unusal
to say the least, because he was a stickler on promptness.
Our teacher was Bruno Campese, a brauny, barrel-chested man
as his name might suggest. I remember the numbness as his
told us what had happened in Dallas -- but just as vivid is
the memory of Mr. Campese's eyes welling with tears as he
spoke. It was the first time I had seen a man cry. Jim Tripodi,
Beaver, PA
I
was returning home from taking my dog to the vet. When I heard
it on the radio, I had to pull over because I couldn't believe
what I was hearing.
I
was 6 years old in first grade. I remember it was announced
at school that the President was shot dead. I remember constantly
looking over my shoulder the rest of the day, thinking someone
might shoot me. I was afraid. I didn't feel safe. If the President
can be shot, the average citizen can't feel safe, either.
I
was in my mother's womb, being brought into a mourning country
one week later on November 29. This initial interaction with
the world has affected my generation, the true "Lost Generation
X", those born circa 1959 thru 1963. Some of us fell with
the Boomers, some with Generation X. The rest of us, troubled
by the effects of those turbulent times, fell into our own
group. who's succinct description escapes me.
I
was in my high school Art class when the radio broadcast was
played over the school's intercom. I remember I was wearing
a green dress. No one spoke, for what seemed like an eternity.
Even at the age of 15, I remained glued to the television
set for days. This was the only time I ever saw my father
cry. Kathleen (McBride) Hall Massachusetts
I
was in my second grade class when our teacher turned on a
television that we had in the class room. I remember our teacher
crying when we all watched the news report that President
Kennedy had been shot. Carl Turner
I,was
5 years old.I remember my mother crying infront of the TV.She
said that the president was shot.
I
had spent the day in a recording studio in Oslo, Norway, recording
a demo tape for my Band. My piano player and I stopped at
a Jazz Club "The Metropol" to get something to eat and listen
to the music. Shortly after the food arrived they announced
that the club was closing..We did not know the reason for
the club closing down, but when we walked past the American
Embassy in Oslo, the Lights were on, which was unsusal as
it was later than their normal closing time. We were staying
with friends and the young boy came in and said in Norwegian
that Kennedy was murdered. We went down town the next morning
to Get a copy of the Paris edition of the "New York Times"
in English so we could find out what happened... The newspaper
wasn't available yet but every Shop in Oslo had a picture
of JFK shrouded in Black and the many of the people would
stop as they walked by and pause at the photo and bow their
heads. Ken Porter
I
WAS IN HIGH SCOOL IN NEWARK, NJ ON NOV. 22, 1963. I WAS IN
THE SCHOOL ADMIN OFFICE WORKING AS AN AIDE WHEN THE RADIO
ANNOUNCED THAT PRESIDENT KENNEDY HAD BEEN SHOT. THE PRINCIPAL
ANNOUNCED OVER THE LOUDSPEAKER WHAT HAD HAPPENED. WHEN IT
WAS ANNOUNCED LATER THAT PRESIDENT KENNEDY HAD DIED, SCHOOL
WAS LET OUT.
I
was in the 1st grade at George B. Dealey, my teacher Mrs.
Grimland was taking our class to learn Spanish, when the first
of the news came across the TV monitor I do to this day believe
I was probably one of the first Dallasites to have learned
about our President being shot. My teacher Ran to the principal's
office, then the principal got on the intercom to tell us
of this tragedy. The Flag was then immediately lowered. We
were told that school would be dismissed. So our parent's
were called to come get their children. It was the most terrible
occurance in my living of life. Especially being from Dallas.
Due to the fact that LOTS of people in America don't like
Dallas but if they would research history, it was said the
assination was going to be in New Orleans. So just because
it DID HAPPEN IN DALLAS WE HAVE BEEN SAID THE WORST STATE
IN THE WORLD!! All I have to say is that just because this
happened in Dallas,people need to let us here in Dallas greive
for what happened here in our city. We will alway remember
such a conspirancy that LBJ and Dallas Police, FBI, CIA did
to one of our Most Valuable Presidents in our time.
I
was watching As the World Turns when they broke in with the
news of the shooting. I hollered for my mother and a salesman
to come to the T V. We stayed glued to the T V for quite some
time, then the salesman had to leave. I spent most of the
weekend glued to the T V.
I
was six months old when President Kennedy was assassinated.
What I find interesting is that as I grew older, I absorbed
the sense of shame my parents and other adults projected in
the aftermath of this event. As a young boy, I even had vivid
nightmares of the assassination, even though I had no first-hand
experience upon which to rely. As I became an adult, I wanted
to thoroughly understand what happened. I visited famous sites
around town linked to the assassination. As I began to put
this event in perspective, I realized that for my generation,
the Kennedy assassination has totally obscured everything
we could have known about Dallas before the assassination.
It was as if Dallas came into being in 1963, with this event
having become the most important single event in our history.
Very few people in my generation know the complete story of
Dallas, and I feel it's partly due to youthful ambivalence
and partly due to the sheer significance of Nov 22 1963 casting
a shadow on anything else Dallas achieved over the years.
Larry Taylor
ATENDING
CLASSES AT IRVING HIGH SCHOOL IN IRVING, TX. AT LUNCH I WENT
TO THE OFFICE TO RE-NEW MY PARKING PASS, AND THERE HEARD THE
NEWS REPORTED AT THE TIME THAT BOTH PRESIDENT KENNEDY AND
GOV. CONNOLLY HAD BEEN SHOT IN THE HEAD. WE SPENT THE REST
OF THE SCHOOL DAY IN CLASSES LISTENING TO NEWS REPORTING OVER
THE SCHOOL LOUD PA SYSTEM. AS IT TURNED OUT, LEE HARVEY LIVED
ABOUT A MILE FROM OUR HOUSE IN IRVING, TX.
I
was in Laguna Beach California, spening my senior year in
High School there. A classmate and I were had gone to a small
store to buy a sack lunch, when we heard over the radio a
news announcement that said "President Kennedy was still alive".
I immediately asked what happened, and the store owner advised
that the President had been shot in Dallas. We went outside
and sat on a small step adjacent to the store and ate our
lunches. At that time we noticed a man on top of the Laguna
Federal Buiding lowering a flag to half mast. He saw us and
announced that President Kennedy was dead. Mark Bell 11-22-2000
I
worked at Glen Justice Mortgage downtown on Commerce Street.
Some of the people I worked with had gone to see the parade.
It was lunch, so some people were eating in an office listening
to the radio with the door closed. They had just heard the
President was on Main Street and then he had been shot. As
the people that went to the parade were coming back the people
in the office came out to say he had been shot, and the ones
coming back just could not believe it, because they had just
seen him.
I
was working as a Fireman in Greensboro, and was sweeping the
Dormitory room when we got the news. One of the firt thing
I did after moving to Dallas was to visit Dealey Plaza. Robert
Parrish
I
was in HIgh School Choir-I was a Senior- No one could believe
it at first--but upon verification I left choir and sought
my Journalism teacher-He helped me prepare a special edition
of the school paper (I was the editor) and we also sent a
copy to Mrs Kennedy.
I
was 20 years old at the time living in Amarillo. I went home
for lunch and saw the news on TV. I was shocked and really
couldn't believe what I saw.
I
was a young child at the time sitting on my parents' living
room floor in Duncombe,Iowa when I glanced at the television
telling the terrible news. For several hours my family was
glued to the television following every development out of
Dallas and in Washington. That is my recollection of 37 years
ago November 22nd,1963 PAT POWERS Webster City,Iowa
I
was in Mrs. Johnston's fifth grade class at Ben Franklin Elementary
School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I remember our teacher cried as
she told us that the President had been killed. She then offered
a prayer.
I
was in the 5th grade and we were outside at recess. I remember
our teacher calling us back into the classroom, she told us
that school was being let out because the president had been
shot. When I got home, I remember my mother was crying.
I
was a student in a 3rd grade classroom in Magnolia, TX when
the principal came into the room to make the announcement
that the president had been shot.
We
were living in Oklahoma City and I had just gotten home from
Kindergarten sitting in the floor in front of the tv and my
mom was ironing watching "As The World Turns."
I
was in the 5th grade at Walnut Hill Elementary School in Dallas
at the time. We were watching Spanish lessons on KERA tv when
our teacher came in, turned the tv off and began crying as
she told us what had happened. Even as 10 year olds, I remember
how most of us were pretty shocked even though we didn't really
understand what had happened. To this day, she is the only
teacher whose name I cannot remember. Greg Williams, Dallas
Sitting
in the back of a 6th grade class waiting for the bell to ring.
The teacher came into the room and told us seconds before
the bell rang. What a terrible way to learn the bad news.
I
was in 6th grade at W. C. Warren Elementary in Garland, Texas.
Our teachers did not tell us the news. On the way home from
school that afternoon, one of the boys in my class rode by
on his bicycle, shouting that President Kennedy had been shot.
I told him he was wrong. "Abraham Lincoln was the President
who had been shot", I replied. Our school patrolman overhead
this, and said, "That's right, honey, it was President Lincoln
who was shot." I didn't learn the truth until later when I
was telling my mother what my classmate had said.
I
was nine years old, living in rural South Carolina, and I
didn't know anything til I got on the school bus to go home
that day, and I overheard one of the high school boys saying
"I wonder who shot the president". I remember going home and
seeing coverage on our old b&w TV; my mom was just sitting
there staring, almost in tears.
Having
just gotten out of the hospital after a 2 weeks stay do to
a bout of pneumonia I was in the process of getting a badly
needed haircut a man from next door at the local cable office
came in and told everyone there of the shooting. Before I
left President Kennedy was dead.
I
was in the second grade, Lucas Valley Elementary, San Rafael,
California. I remember the secretary came in to borrow the
radio. They told us later what happened and we went home at
lunch time. I remember the short walk home, what the others
were saying. I was the first to tell my mom that Kennedy was
shot to death. She immediately turned the TV on. I remember
seeing Oswald shot on TV, didn't seem possible.
Playing
in my crib. I was less than two years old. I would later visit
Dallas at the age of five and can remember my parents pointing
out to me the depository as the building where Oswald fired
the shots. Even at age five I felt a great understanding this
was not just any old building but a structure with a lot of
importance to it.
I
was in my 2nd grade class in Big Springs Texas when we recieved
the news. School was dismiss shortly after the announcement.
I remember the long walk home, another kid about my age came
up to me and was telling me all about what had happen. The
whole time I'm thinking "Where did he get all this information."
He was so full of (censored). He was telling me how a "bubble
car" had stopped on an overpass and these men jumped out and
shot the President and then took off in the "bubble car."
I
was in 2nd grade at St. Bernard school in east Dallas coloring
a Thanksgiving basket when the head nun of our school knocked
on the door of the classroom. Our teacher, Sister Mary Zita,
answered the door. We could hear the head nun whisper something,
Sister Zita turned white, sat down at her desk and began to
weep quietly while beginning to say the rosary. Even though
we were all 7-year olds, we knew something was terribly wrong.
No one said a word, I remember everyone looking at each other
with a strange glance of curiosity. A few minutes later we
were led into church where the announcement of the President's
death was given by the Monsignor of the parish.
I
was in 3rd grade in Catholic School...we were all sent home
early...my mother cried like it was one of her own children.
I
was an eighth grader at St.Mary's Cathedral parochial school
in downtown Austin and was at the noon recess playing softball
when the bell rang prematurely. After the nuns told us that
Kennedy had been shot, the whole school went to the church
to pray a rosary. Ironically, I led the rosary after frivolously
stating earlier that day Kennedy's visit to Austin later that
day was no big deal. We got out of school early as promised
but for the wrong reason. That newspaper picture of us in
church that day and with me in the rear of the gathering leading
the rosary still haunts me. Now I try to think before I speak.
I
was in junior high school and had taken the class attendance
to the office, when I passed the tv in the student lounge.
It was on CBS, and i came around the corner just in time to
hear the official announcement that JFK had died. I was stunned,
but went back to class. Classes were cancelled for the rest
of the day.
I
was at home with my mother's best friend because I was sick,
but my parents were on Air Force One taking a tour with my
uncle. He was a steward on Air Force One. I was 8 years old
and when the news came on the tv I thought my parents had
been shot or something. Mom and dad came home and they had
lots of keepsakes from the plane. Mom also said that Jackie
had a whole closet of shoes on the plane, this seemed to make
an impact on my mom and her friends. I only wish that I had
not been sick so that I could have gone on the airplane too.
Sharon Easley Dallas
I
was in the 6th grade in a parochial school in a Massachusetts
small town. One of the nuns knocked on the door of the classroom
to let us know. Children were confused and crying. It seemed
completely impossible to believe, in fact, at first we thought
the news was that the president had been shot BY the governor
of Texas rather than along with him. We all said a prayer
for him, but by then (approx, 2pm), he was already dead. School
was dismissed and we all were sent home to find stunned parents
and relatives. We stayed by the TV for the next 3 days as
events unfolded. We feared that America could be under attack.
Then Oswald was shot on live TV on Sunday. For a 10 year old,
the world had turned upside down. It was completely shocking.
I
WAS ONLY TWO MONTHS OLD AT THE TIME OF HIS ASSASINATION. READING
THESE ARTICLES GIVE ME CLOSURE TO WHAT HAPPENED IN 11/22/1963.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VERY PROFOUND WRITING. CMILLER
I
was in Jr. High School. My dad was the senior Dallas PD motorcycle
officer assigned to Kennedy on the motorcade. He passed away
in 1976, so every anniversary of the assassination, I get
to see his photo again.
I
was a Sophomore at Oklahoma University and working at my part
time job pumping gas when the news story came over the radio.
Joe Van Ness, Tulsa, OK
I
was five years old and my mom took me out of kindergarten
here in Dallas to go see the motorcade. We walked from our
home at Vine St., the current Quadrangle area, to Cedar Springs
and stood on the west side of that street. As the President
and First Lady came by, my mom told me to wave to the President
and I did. As the crowds dispersed, we walked back home down
an alley that led to the back of our house. As we approached,
my aunt, my mom's sister who lived two blocks over, ran down
the alley at us, screaming that the President had been shot.
We went home and watched the news coverage after that.
I
was 11 years old, living in Akron, Ohio with my parents and
little sister. I stayed home from school that day because
of illness and was watching television when the bulletins
came over the TV. Not realizing that I was watching history
unfolding, I was mad because they were interrupting my soap
operas.
I
was playing with my toy cars while my mother was using the
sewing machine, I was 9 years old. I was also remembering
that President Kennedy had just visited Venezuela recently.
- Carlos Milano, Caracas. Venezuela
I
was in Gym Class in Junior High School. After hearing the
news that the school principal read over the PA system, a
long silence from shock fell over most of us followed by general
malaise. It bring back tears thinking about it now.
I
was at my home in Cockrell Hill, a suburb just west of Dallas
and I was preparing lunch for my 15 month old baby at 12:00.
I was watching the news when at 12:30 an announcement interrupted
the news saying that the President and Govenor Connelly had
been shot. Then at 1:00 p.m. the bulletin said President Kennedy
was dead.
I
was watching "As the World Turns" when Walter Cronkite broke
in with the news that the president had been shot. I thought-yea.
really, come on. I was upset that my program had been interrupted.
Minutes later when the sad news came, I was shocked, scared
and so sad. Our hearts were broken.
Was
a member of the USArmy. On duty as a Facilities controller
DCS/Starcom - MAAG Vietnam. As an aside I was hoping I was
one of the 1,000 troop reduction contingent that Kennedy called
for, which of course didn't happen. The Pacific Stars and
Stripes at the time had various articles regarding the subject
and that of the Diem overthrow in Saigon earlier in the month
... David Healy Las V
We
were changing classes in high school when the announcement
came over the pa system.
I
was 12 years old and a member of the St. Pius X Catholic School
choir in El Paso Texas. President Kennedy was a close friend
of Monsignor Gaynor of our parish and had stopped by to visit
with the Monsignor the day before at the church rectory. Living
down the street from the rectory, I can remember looking out
my living room window and seeing rows of big black Cadillac
limosines in front of the building. I was in awe at the thought
that the President of the United States, President John F.
Kennedy was not only in my city, but at that very moment,
in my neighborhood.The next morning at mass, we students could
hardly wait for the sermon because Sister had told us that
Monsignor would be saying the mass and that he was going to
tell us all about his visit with President Kennedy. I was
in the choir loft when Monsignor walked in, genuflected, kissed
the Altar and made the sign of the Cross. As he turned around
you could see he was visibly shaken, he then said: "I've just
been told that President Kennedy has been shot in Dallas,
let us all pray for him." I can still recall the sick feeling
in my stomach, almost forty years later, at hearing those
words.
I
remember I was in the 5th grade. Our principal informed us
about the assassination over the loud speaker. Our teacher
asked us to pray for the Kennedys and our country (something
that our kids can't do today). I remember that evening our
family was huddled around the black and white tv to get the
latest news.
Nov.
22, 1963, I was celebrating my 10th birthday. I was in my
fourth grade class room when my teach came into the classroom
with tears in her eyes. She announce the president has been
shot and that was all the information she had at that time.
My birthday turn into blue day. I share the same feeling as
Jamie Lee Curtis the actress, she was also born on Nov. 22,1953.
We as American people do not need to worry, cause we will
one day meet our maker, believe me.
My
boyfriend (later husband)and I were Seniors at Kimball High.
The Seniors were allowed off from school to attend the parade
for JFK in Dallas so we were there. His motorcade had just
passed us when we heard the shots and ran for cover inside
the Mercantile Bank where we watched everything on a tv located
in their lobby. The crowds grew hanging on every word, prayers
were said and tears were freely flowing on both men and women.
It was a tremendously sad day and one I will never forget.
I
was 15 and allowed off from school (Jesuit College Prep) for
the President's visit. I and a friend (Bob Gier) went to Love
Field in order to see JFK arrive. At one point I climbed up
on the fence at the arriving pad. After JFK and his party
started walking along the fence, the secret service tried
to pull me off the fence. I had a cast on my right hand and
I assumed they thought I might be a threat. The crowd was,
of course, pushing against the fence so I physically had no
where to go. Because of this attempt by the secret service,
I missed shaking the President's hand. But Mrs. Kennedy saw
what I was going through, looked up and reach up to shake
my hand and gave a simpathetic smile. I am shown still standing
on the fence holding onto the lap post in an often shown picture
of the crowd at Love Field. I'm standing alone. "My" photo
was even shown full screen in the Clint Eastwood movie "In
the Line of Fire". Thought you might like to hear this story.
Wes Stewart Dallas, Texas
I
had just finished bowling on the leauge I was on. Several
family members were with me. As we came out of the bowling
alley, it was announced that President Kennedy had been shot.
By the time we got to our cousins house for lunch it was announced
that he had died. I died a little bit myself in that moment.
I ran to another room and cried my eyes out. I'll never forget
that day.
My
company was making the first 1,000 coin operated racks the
Dallas Morning News ordered to replace their "honor" racks
on the streets. C. D. Terry
Actually,
I was born two years later. Yes, today is my birthday. I have
always had my own theory as every one does. But I most enjoy
studying the comparisons of the Lincoln & Kennedy assasinations.
My mother was good friends with Jesse Curry the Dallas Police
Cheif at the time. I have an autographed copy of his book,
and have listened to my mom recount the story of that day
over and over. Needless to say Mr. Curry nor my mom think
Oswald acted alone and I think history has proven that. Thanks
for the web site!
I
was at work in LaGrange, IL. I had just come back from lunch
and everyone in my office was down the hall gathered around
a radio. When I walked in, someone told me that President
Kennedy had been shot and was dead. I remember thinking, "what
a sick joke". However, sadly and unfortunately, it was no
joke. We all went home. Everyone went home with tears in their
eyes. For the next week, everyone was glued to their television
sets. I was 18 years old then and everything about 11/22/63
is still very vivid in my mind.
At
14 I was in a bookkeeping class in N.J. That weekend my father
took us down to see the procession in Wash D.C. Just as the
coffin came by us the radio, the lady next to us had, announced
that Oswald was shot. Tom - DeSoto
I
was a seventh grader at TW Browne Jr. High in Dallas. What
started in the hallways after lunch as a rumor was confirmed
when the next class began and the principal fed the radio
broadcast over the public address system. One of my classmates
was Alan Tippit. At one point, as we all listened in stunned
silence, someone came in and requested that Alan go with them.
Later we all found out that his father had been murdered.
I will never forget the feeling of being lost while the whole
thing went on through the weekend and perhaps the country
has never regained its sense of security ever since. If the
president was vulnerable, then all of us were.
I
was a junior attending my last class of the day at Lawton
High School, Lawton, OK, and was out on a pass, in a deserted
hallway, heading for the bathroom, when my best girlfriend
came running toward me from the far end of the hall, yelling,
"Oh, Francy, oh my God, have you heard what happened?" And
I said, "What?" She replied, crying, "Oh, it's just horrible!
Kennedy has been shot!". It seemed like she was running in
slow motion toward me from what seemed like a mile away. Everything
was in slow motion. I was thunderstruck, stopped dead in my
tracks, and said "No, you must be kidding", knowing somehow
it was true. And knowing he was going to die. I turned around,
the bathroom forgotten, and re-entered my class. I sat down,
still holding the excuse block, and looked at the teacher,
who looked at me, puzzled at my quick return. I said, "It's
awful...." and at that moment, the intercom came on and announced
that "President Kennedy has been shot in Dallas. He has been
taken to the hospital." We all sat there silent, and did nothing
until the final intercom came on, telling us he was dead.
The normal rush to leave class after the final bell, running
to cars to speed out of the parking lot, changed to silent
walking, driving as though in a funeral cortege. I remember
hearing on the radio that Lee Harvey Oswald had been captured
as he ran to a theatre. And nothing after that. After 37 years,
the memory is as clear as if it happened yesterday....
I
was in second grade at Woodland Heights Elementary School
in Brownwood. A knock came to our classroom door about 1:30
or 2. Our teacher, Mrs. Boysen, left for what seemed like
an eternity. When she came back she had been crying. We asked
her what was wrong and she said she would tell us later. She
never did. I found out from my best friend who was in first
grade. I can go to the exact point walking home from school
where he told me.
I
was in the 10th grade, Biology class, in Springfield, MAssachusetts.
I
was 7 in second grade in the Chicago area; we had just settled
back in to our lessons after lunch, when the principal swung
the classroom door open and said "The President's been shot"
the teacher asked "Dead?". He replied "Yes" and moved on to
the next classroom. Strangley, other than a stunned look on
everyone immediately after the statement, I don't remember
the rest of the afternoon. I do remember watching the funeral
on TV. D. Kurak Plainfield, IL
I
was in class....7th grade.
It
was homecoming day at La Marque High School and I was in between
classes when I heard about JFK. We postponed homecoming until
the next week and we watched TV until the funeral. Very shocking
and sad weekend.
I
was in the 5th grade in Houston. Our teacher came in crying
and we were sent home. My father was in Dallas on business
and saw Air Force One take off from Love Field. Three months
later we moved to a small town in Pennsylvania --the only
Texans most had ever met. All anyone wanted to talk about
was "why 'we' shot Kennedy". I'll certainly never forget it.
Hello!
Just visited your website. Excellent coverage of the assasination.
To answer your question, I was 8 years old and attending school
in a small town in Ontario, Canada. I remember walking down
the hallway at school and seeing several teachers crying.
We didn't know why, but a short time later our principal came
to our classroom and told us that President Kennedy had been
killed. School was immediately dismissed, and we were sent
home. When I arrived home, it was evident that my mother had
been crying as well. Just thought you would like to know.
Rick Pinter Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
I
was a junior high school student in Garland, on my way to
Love Field, with my mother, brother, and sister to pick up
my dad, who was coming home from a business trip. My mother
had taken us out of school so that we could see President
Kennedy. I think we were on Forest Lane when we heard that
he had been shot. We turned around and went back home. I believe
that my dad's plane was delayed, and then sat on the runway
for some time until President Johnson was sworn in.
High
school history class at Poteet HS, Poteet, Texas. As we view
the present dilemma about which of 2 lesser evils is sworn
in as our new prez, we should all remember a time when we
had a truly great President. God help our nation and let's
be thankful for men such as President Kennedy to remember.
I
was in the 4th grade at B.H.Macon elementery school. I was
running the film projector for our class, in the film room.
The door opened and the bright sunshine was blinding, because
it was so dark. The teachers were crying.
i
was sitting in a rocking chair giving my 3 month old a bottle
watching As The World Turns when they interupted the show
with the announcement. i nearly dropped my daughter as i jumped
up and ran to the phone to call my mother & sister. i live
in mesquite and it was and still is the most tragic event
in our lifetime
In
my 5th grade home-room class (Mrs. Wiggins). I had never seen
a teacher cry before.
I
was in my science class in Junior High. I remember the devastating
news as if it were yesterday. Everyone began to sob in the
classroom when we heard the President had been shot. It was
a sad day in our history.
This
is actually about what my DAD was doing during lunch on 11/22/63.
He was a student at Baylor College of Dentistry, and used
a break between class and lab to watch the Kennedy motorcade
come through downtown. He swears he made eye contact with
JFK, and the 2 exchanged waves. By the time Daddy got back
to his car, the first news on the radio was that President
Kennedy had just been shot!
I
was in the second grade and was waiting on my mom and dad
to pick me up from the child care center I stayed at after
school. After the shooting, the teachers turned on the television
and all of the teachers and kids watched the news coverage.
My
mom permitted me to miss school that day in order to see the
president. My friend and I rode the bus from Oak Cliff to
downtown, saw the president, and had a coke downtown. It was
in the "soda parlor" the crackling radio told us the president
had been shot. We took the bus back to my father's business
in Oak Cliff, which was on Jefferson Blvd. down the street
from the Texas Theatre. What a day!!!! Wes Johnson
I
was a boy of almost five, playing in the living room floor
of our house in Garland. I seem to remember that "As The World
Turns" was on, when one of the neighbors, Virginia Roberts,
came running across the street, crying and shouting that the
president had been shot. She and Mom stood together crying
in front of the TV as Walter Cronkite broke the news that
the president had been killed in Dallas. My sister, who was
a first grader at the time, came home early from school, telling
of how the principal had announced the news over the speaker
system, and of the upsetting scene of the teachers crying
as they sent everyone home early. My dad came home early from
work, and I remember the intense sadness and disbelief that
someone would do such a thing to this man, and that this could
happen in our city. We went down to Dealy Plaza a few days
later, and I remember people kind of wandering around and
pointing up at the Book Depository, and that there were flowers
on the ground. The assassination is one of my earliest and
saddest memories, and one I shall never forget.
I
was in the 4th grade and no one told us during the day. When
the neighbor's mom picked me up from school I will never forget
what my 4th grade friend said. "Well good, maybe LBJ will
do a better job." Our of the mouth of babes... right?
I
was in my second grade classroom when the news was brought
to us. I immediately burst into tears. I felt like a family
member had been shot, because JFK was so well respected and
talked of in my family.
I
was in 3rd grade and our school principal was dying when the
word came in. We all thought it was Mr. Lerner, but the sighs
of relief became instant tears when we heard that JFK was
the victim. It feels like yesterday.
It
was afternoon in my 2nd grade class. Teachers came to the
door and whispered bits to each other. We kids knew something
was wrong well before the announcement by the principal.
I
was a freshman at N.R. Crozier Technical High School and they
allowed all the students to leave the school to go see the
President's motorcade. We arrived at the street where he was
going to pass by and saw them pass by. Everyone waved to them,
and they waved back. On our return back to school, we heard
shots which at the time sounded like firecrackers. Someone
in the group said it was firecrackers, and I said I just hope
it wasn't shots, and hope the President didn't get shot. But
before we all made it back to school, we had begun to hear
rumors that the President had actually been shot. Half of
us began to cry. When we arrived at the school, the principal
came over the loudspeaker and announced that the President
had been shot and later announced that he had died. All of
the students began to cry. Everyone at school was stunned.
The whole building was silent. When I arrived at home after
school, I immediately went to see the news. It was such a
sad day. I saved all the newspapers of the President's assination.
And we all saw the funeral of the President on the TV. My
dad had placed all the newspapers in the attic of the house
and since I had gotten married, I didn't go get them until
later on in the years to follow. To my surprise, by little
brother had taken them and said they were his. He never gave
them back to me and I was very upset. But to this day, I don't
even know if he still has them. But to this day, I'll never
forget how handsome and beautiful the President and Mrs. Kennedy
looked as they passed by. LMRGR
I
was only 11yrs old, I had stayed home from school because
of sickness. I was watching the President's motorcade thru
downtown when the shots rung out the horror of our lifetime.
God, what a terrible thing to happen to someone so young.
John F. Breedlove Sr.
I
WAS IN THE FIRST GRADE SITTING IN MY CLASSROOM WHEN THE PRINCIPAL
ANNOUNCED OVER THE LOUD SPEAKER THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD JUST
BEEN SHOT. ALL THE STUDENTS BEGAN TO CRY. EVEN THE TEACHERS
WERE CRYING BUT YET TRYING TO CONSOLE THE STUDENTS. IT WAS
JUST LIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS HAD PASSED. I WILL NEVER
FOREGET THAT DAY.
At
the time of the assasination, I was attending The Madaline
Parochial School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We were watching the
motorcade on television.
On
November 22, 1963 I was fourteen years old and a student at
Turner High School in Carrollton - about 12 miles north of
downtown Dallas. Early that afternoon, I was in the gym, waiting
for the bell to ring, signaling the end of class, when the
principal turned on the school's P.A. system and put the radio
up to the microphone, and we heard on the news that President
Kennedy had been shot. Then the bell rang and we all went
to class. Usually, the halls were noisy between classes but
this time everyone was strangely subdued. Five or ten minutes
later, after the next period began, at about 1 p.m. or a little
after, the principal put the radio news back on over the P.A.
system and we heard that the President had died. My teacher
and some of the girls in the class started crying. I was stunned.
They let school out early that day because everyone was too
distracted. I remember some of the boys in the hall actually
shouted "hooray, they killed Kennedy." (It should be remembered
that Kennedy was not well liked by some of the more conservative
people in Dallas.) They were probably just reflecting their
parents' political views but I thought they were jerks. I
had been planning to open a bank account with some money I
had earned from my newspaper route. (Sorry, it was the Dallas
Times Herald.) So I used the opportunity of getting out of
school early to go to a bank nearby, where I opened a savings
account. I think I was the last customer that day. They were
closing the bank as I left. Looking back, I can't believe
I bothered to do that but I didn't know what else to do. I
was in the Boy Scouts then and my father was scoutmaster.
Our troop had been planning a camp-out at Lake Grapevine for
that weekend. I remember my Dad and the other scout leaders
thought about cancelling it but in the end, we went ahead
because they felt it was only fitting, since President Kennedy
had been such a big promoter of physical fitness and youth
programs, and so on. Of course, the assassination is all we
could think about and talk about. We kept up with the latest
developments by listening to the news on our transister radios.
Late on Sunday morning, some of us were standing around a
campfire, after eating breakfast or lunch, trying to stay
warm. We were listening to the news on a transistor radio.
Suddenly, we heard that Oswald had been shot. Of course, we
all cheered. I later realized that wasn't such a good thing
since it has left a lot of questions unanswered. I think when
President Kennedy died, it was a real tragedy for the nation.
He was an inspirational leader, the kind of person who made
you feel proud to be an American and that you personally,
as well as the entire country, were capable of great achievements.
I
was in fourth period study hall as a freshman at Burkburnett
High School when I heard about President Kennedy's assasination.
I
was home watching the events from the time the president landed
at Love Field, I was watching on TV when the shots rang out,
what a sad day in Dallas and the US and the world. I have
always prayed for the Kennedy family and continue to. I just
wish the total truth would be told. God Bless America. dvh
I
was a freshman at the Newark College of Engineering in Newark,
New Jersey. We were waiting for our class in the Psychology
of Human Behavior to start when someone came into the room
from the academic office to announce that President Kennedy,
Vice President Johnson and the Govenor of Texas had been shot
in Dallas. Classes were canceled and I took a train home,
not believing that this news was true and walked into our
home to find my mother crying in front of the television and
I knew then that the President was dead. It was strange to
watch the story unfold on our tv over the next few days. But
the strangest event was when I was leaving church on Sunday
with my family someone walked up to us and said that Lee Oswald
had been shot. The calm and safety of the 50s was over and
we had been thrust into a new uncertain period in our nations
history!
I
was in first grade at Umphrey Lee Elementary School here in
Dallas. My teacher, Mrs. Crouch, ran out of the room and came
back in crying. We didn't know what had really happened. I
then know I got out of school early and my mom was waiting
for me on the corner to walk me home with my friend Kristy
Nevill's mother (something she didn't usually do). We lived
in the vicinity of the Texas Theater and Lee Harvey Oswald
had not yet been captured but had already shot Officer Tippet.
Tippet lived up the street from us and went to our church.
Mom was afraid and didn't know where the "killer" might be.
Patricia Sprunck Ridgley.
I
was in elementary school on my way to lunch. Just before I
heard the news about Kennedy, I became ill and returned my
breakfast on the stairs. A very unpleasant way to remember
such a tragic moment in history. HH Dallas
I
was barely 3 and I was at my Grandmother's house. My dad called
and said that he was coming to get me early that day. When
he got there, I remember seeing my daddy crying -- my daddy
never cried. That picture is imprinted in my mind - even 37
years later.
I
was in my second grade class in Wyoming, Michigan. They teacher
came in and told us to go home, but didn't give an explanation.
I
was in the 3rd grade. It was a rainy, cold day in Detroit,
Michigan. As I got into my mother's car after school, I heard
my older sister & my mother crying. I was startled & asked
what was wrong. "The President's been shot!"
I
was in second grade, in Port Arthur, Texas, and will never
forget the principal making an announcement over the PA system
to the whole school that the President had been shot. Our
teacher had us all put our heads down on our desks, for some
quiet time. As best as I can remember, school was let out
a little early, and we all went to our respective homes to
watch the non-stop television coverage. While I was too young
to understand all that was happening, I certainly remember
the feelings of shock and disbelief, sadness, and the sense
that time was stopping for a little bit while everyone was
focused on only one thing.
Discussing
"SILAS MARNER" in our 9th grade English class in Arcadia,
California.
I
was grade school when the principal walked in the classroom
and announced that President Kennedy had been shot. I have
lived in Dallas all my life and Dallas has never been the
same senses the Kennedy assassination.
I
was in the sixth grade in Midland, TX. We'd just come in from
the playground following lunch when our teacher was called
out of the room. Shortly thereafter, the principal made the
announcement over the PA system that President Kennedy had
been killed in Dallas. When our teacher returned, I could
see she was visibly upset. We spent the rest of the day in
silence until we were dismissed.
I
remember well, that day in history....I was in the second
grade and it was my turn to read in front of the class.. as
I sat in that little wooden chair the chalk board behind me
and the entire class looking at me, an announcement came over
the little wooden box high above the chalk board tellin us
that the President of the United States had been shot and
we were to put our heads on our desk, a few minutes later
and he was gone and so was my opportunity to read to the class.
I
was in pre-school at Christ the King in Dallas. I can remember
getting let out of school early and everyone upset. I remember
my mother and dad being very upset.
I
was a sailor stationed at Norfolk, Va. We watched the coverage
on TV, and like everyone else, were numbed by the tragedy.
I recall that many times over the next month, as I went about
my business on the base thinking my own thoughts, suddenly
my eye would be caught by the half-staffed flag, and the heartbreak
and despair would all come flooding back. It was the end of
"Happy Days" and the beginning of a long national nightmare
that (Jerry Ford notwithstanding) continues to this day.
On
November 22nd 1963, I was a 13 year old seventh grader at
St. Jude's elementary in Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada,
a catholic institution. At approximately 12h30 P.M. Eastern
time, our school principal came over the intercom to inform
us (en franais) of the tragic news. For Catholics everywhere,
the death of the first catholic President of the United States
was doubly shocking. Pierre Marion Beloeil, Quebec, Canada.
Hi,
my name is Jacqueline Runnels and I was three years old when
JFK died. I can still see my daddy running in the house saying,
Bonnie they just killed the JFK.
I
was only three at the time, but I remember my mom crying when
the news broke about JFK. I also remember watching the funeral
on TV and when Lee Harvey was shot by Jack Ruby.
I
was in my first grade class room and the teacher was called
out of class and came back into the class crying. Then a little
later there was an announcement that "The President of the
United States had been shot" I remember girls in the class
started crying.
I
was in the eighth grade in my world history class when Walter
Cronkite's voice came over our P.A. system saying that the
president had been shot. About 10-15 minutes later, he came
over the system again saying that the president had died.
When school dismissed earlier and we were on our way home,
I remember seeing people walking down the streets and inside
their cars crying.
I
was in the fifth grade at Wheatland Elementary School on November
22, 1963, and I remember it like it was yesterday. The school
secretary came running down the hall and burst into our classroom.
She told our teacher, Miss Leach, that the President had been
shot downtown, then she ran down the hall to alert the other
classes. I'll never forget the look on my teacher's face.
A few minutes later, the secretary came back, and she was
crying, and told us that the President was dead. Shortly after
that, the school buses came to take us home early. I guess
it was because we were in the DISD and no one knew what was
going on in Dallas. I remember the adults acting very frightened.
I
was in my 2nd grade class in Big Springs Texas when we recieved
the news. School was dismiss shortly after the announcement.
I remember the long walk home, another kid about my age came
up to me and was telling me all about what had happen. The
whole time I'm thinking "Where did he get all this information."
He was so full of BS. He was telling me how a "bubble car"
had stopped on an overpass and these men jumped out and shot
the President and then took off in the "bubble car."
I
was an 8 year old boy who along with my younger brother who
was 5 years old at the time were on our way back to school
from the parade. We had watched the parade from the old Evert's
Jewelers store on Main St. My older brother had taken us to
the parade. He was employed at the jewelry store. When I got
back to school, everyone was crying. When I found out the
President had been assassinated, my first thoughts were that
Russia had to be involved. It was a very sad day and I will
always remember the sadness and grief associated with it.
I
was in reading group in my third grade class in Muncie, In
I
was in the U.S. Navy attending AE 'A' school in Jacksonville,
Fla. I had just completed taking a weekly test when they announced
over the p.a. that Kennedy had been shot in Dallas. My first
thoughts were, "What's he doing in Dallas?" And then I remembered
something my Carrollton High School history teacher, Mr. Crowe,
said before the election. He stated that Kennedy should let
Nixon win and run again in 1964 because the next President
would die in office or have something happen to him.
It
was early afternoon in my second grade Language Arts class
at Lisbon Elementary in Oak Cliff. The pricipal came over
the public address and announced that President John F. Kennedy
had been assassinated. I had no idea what assassinated meant
but by the look on my teacher's face, I knew it was really
bad. On the way home from school, I kept an eye out for someone
carrying a gun who might have done it. Raymond R. Butler Aberdeen,
Scotland
I
was a freshman at Atlanta, Texas High School. It was after
lunch, in Spanish I class, that we heard over the loudspeaker
the announcement that Kennedy had been shot. There was a stunned
silence, disbelief, then a sort of community sorrow. A few
moments later, we heard he was dead. A day and time never
forgotten.
I
was in the 11 grade Enlish class.
Deeply
shocked on awakening that Saturday morning Melbourne Australia
time and hearing he horrible news. With great sorrow on the
final call, as felt by many in our city that day and those
days that followed. "Requescat in Pace".
My
Mum was eating in the dining room, and she saw the story on
TV and she said she just couln't beleive it. My Dad was driving
to Hamilton and he heard it on the radio and was so shocked..
i wasn't alive then.. Poor Kennedy Family.
I
was in the Hospital in Tulsa, Okla my First Son was Born 9:53
Am on Nov 22 , 1963 A Day of Joy for my Son Sadness for the
World losing such a Wonderful Man
I
was in Mrs. Graves' eighth grade english class at Westhampton
Jr. High School in Richmond, VA. The principal Mr. Galvin
came into our classroom suddenly, ashened faced. He spoke
to Mrs. Graves softly, then turned and left. She announced
in her usual dignified manner that the President had been
shot and had died shortly after. She asked us to bow our heads
and pray for him. As the news sank in, the girls began to
cry. School ended early that day. We walked out of the building
as if in a trance. As children of the 1950's we had never
known such tragedy. It was the end of an era, and a sudden
brutal coming of age. Jim Silberman NY, NY
5th
grade. Teacher came in from the hallway and asked one of my
classmates if he had his transister radio with him today.
This was quite unusual for a teacher to want to borrow a student
radio during class. She soon came back in and told us that
the president had been shot. She then told us that it was
time for an early recess and that we would all be dismissed
as soon as all of our buses were able to pick us up. John
Lewis, Bancroft, WV
Sitting
in 5th grade class
I
had just turned three years old. My father would come home
every day at noon to eat the lunch that my grandmother had
prepared. They would listen to the noon television news from
the kitchen table while we ate. I remember that both Granny
and Daddy got up in a hurry from the kitchen table to go listen
to a news announcement. I knew from their bearing that something
was wrong. My grandmother grabbed the folds of her apron and
wrung the nervously in her hand. Daddy listened intently and
leaned closer to the Tv. When I said something, they said
that the President had been shot in Dallas. We moved from
the kitchen into the den to finish our lunch from TV trays
and watched the television. I still remember Walter Cronkite
announcing that that President had died as he wiped tears
from his eyes. I also remember the similar reactions of Daddy
and Granny.
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