St Patrick's Cathedral June, 7 1968.

[electric_blue68]

Any other DUer go? I feel almost embarrassed to mention it. But as a NYC'r... And an area 5tth Ave passing by St. Pat's, up to 57th St, the former Donnell Library, Rockefeller Center 6th Ave was I, and friends were visiting, walking through etc. The area by St Patrick's is t's transformed. While you'd see the opening of the big doors, special Holiday Masses, Easter Parade etc

This was a whole other scale of experience.
So one of my best friend's and I head down. I guess we got down ? 10A +. We walk across from 5th Ave towards Madison Ave passing the people on line. It's already a very warmer day than usual - it'll get I think into the 90°F range - that's July, Aug weather!

Getting to Madison Ave we're shocked to see that the line goes down several blocks on both sides! I hadn't listened really to the news before I left. I now know people had been lining up before dawn, I think.

We cross the Ave and head down to the end. People are either silent, or quietly talking to each other. And we wait, and wait, and... It's getting hotter. We hear some people have fainted. We slowly move forward. Think of how terrible, and surreal this is all is. I have no thought of leaving, neither does she. It takes about 4-5 hours to reach the church door.

Finally (and I don't remember) we (according to articles) we go in a side door. We go up a few pews then sit, kneel, sit. It's darkish, and cooler. Up front is brightly lit My friend notices Jackie Kennedy arriving.

Eventually we make our way slowly up to the front. Very brightly lit There were these big floor standing candle holders with a spiral detail positioned up by the casket. I also read yesterday there were 6 friends standing spaced apart nearby. That seems vaguely familiar. The people pass on either side. I'm on the left.

Amazing then how my focus narrows, time almost slows to just reach out and touch the corner of the casket with my right hand. Then I kept on going. We turn left then back towards Fifth Ave. Do we go out the big doors, I don't remember.

I *do remember* standing catty corner NE corner on the block looking back north east at the Cathedral. As we left, and even here across, down across the street there are *big sets of cables* snaking every where, and every way. We walk really carefully!

I head home. I probably if the radio guy I've listened to with JFK's, and RFK's people since Fall "67 was on listened to that.
Tommorow will be the train.

[3Hotdogs]

1. I think he would have been one of the greatest presidents we ever had. I base that on a documentary

I saw, maybe 10 years ago.... the scene where he went into a house in West Virginia. The occupants were a poor, Black family. He was holding a malnourished child.

As I recall, he left the house and proclaimed, probably mostly to himself, "I have wasted my life."

[electric_blue68]

2. I also think he would have been one of the greatest because his levels of compassion, and empathy...

kept growing.

Ibhadn't heard *that* comment.

The story I've read even further back I have heard about him visiting The Mississippi Delta. Poor Black families. He encounter this silent listless child.
He gently touch this child's extended belly, but then gently his cheeks. He couldn't get a response out of that little one.
He left with tears.

[3Hotdogs]

6. Yours is more accurate.

[Raine]

4. Yes, such a good caring man. It's so awful we were all deprived.😪 Nt

R-I-P RFK

💔

[musette_sf]

3. You got in

I was too late

[electric_blue68]

5. Oh! You tried to go! Sorry to hear that.