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Grins

(7,132 posts)
47. 10th grade. Me too.
Mon Apr 10, 2017, 12:33 PM
Apr 2017

I too was a sophomore in high school that day. I remember leaving school about 90-minutes later and walking to the exit, and down the entire length of that corridor my friends crying, an unable-to-stand level of crying.

I remember walking through my small town's (northern NJ) main street and no traffic was moving. Cars parked by the sidewalk had several people standing near them listening to the car's radio, all in stunned disbelief. Churches and synagogues filled up, stores, restaurants and movie theaters closed, the 405 in Calif. came to a complete stop because people could not drive. Traffic in Times Sq - the same. Complete gridlock and no one cared. Broadway went dark for three days, Times Square went dark. Completely. Dark. No store windows were lit unless it was to illuminate a subtle and sombre portrait of a youthful president Kennedy, a portrait that captured our loss. Black drapery in the background, and that portrait on an easel.

I seem to recall that JFK laid in state in the Capitol rotunda for three days. For three days and 24-hours each day, people passed in respect. When it was time to close the viewing to the public there were still THOUSANDS of people still in line waiting to pay their respects. In the dark, the remaining people in line to see him went down Constitution Ave.

All schools were closed. All of them. Everyone stayed home in front of their TV's watching. Watching Jack Ruby shoot Oswald on live TV! Watching Jackie, Robert and Ted walking down the street. Watching, and watching, and never forgetting a three year old boy - on his birthday - salute his father's passing casket. Try to imagine the collective slap to the head everyone in America - in the world! - felt seeing that. And this feeling lasted for many days after JFK was buried. You could not get it out of your mind.

I tell my friends who were too young to know that date that it is, still, to this day, the one event that truly shattered America, the one event I will never forget. Not Reagan, not Vietnam, not Watergate - not even Sept. 11th - not so many other things; but that one day.

It's too hard to explain to those who did not live though it, but if you are one of those and get a chance, pick up Robert Caro's "Lyndon Johnson, the Passage of Power", and read the chapter that deals with that day and the days following. It's terrific!

excellent! tibbiit Apr 2017 #1
Beautifully written. Kentonio Apr 2017 #2
Wonder FULL writing. . furtheradu Apr 2017 #3
I have found the irony of promising never to become my mother mnhtnbb Apr 2017 #4
I was 20 when JFK was assassinated . pangaia Apr 2017 #5
I'm a member! Lonestarblue Apr 2017 #6
10th grade. Me too. Grins Apr 2017 #47
I'm a member of Butterflylady Apr 2017 #7
I was a junior in high school in USA when JFK was assassinated riverbendviewgal Apr 2017 #8
I was 16 years old The Wizard Apr 2017 #9
I'm a member. In 5th grade when JFK got shot. calimary Apr 2017 #10
(But the initial premise is false....... lastlib Apr 2017 #12
Oh yes. Graduated HS in '66. If the mountains crumble to the sea, let it be. It ain't me. ancianita Apr 2017 #11
Good read about Cape Breton for Americans riverbendviewgal Apr 2017 #13
I had been living in Japan without TV until August 1963 LeftInTX Apr 2017 #14
Love the name, Generation JFK... N_E_1 for Tennis Apr 2017 #15
Yes TuxedoKat Apr 2017 #21
Another proud member here! hamsterjill Apr 2017 #16
1963-1968... there was hope, then there was not oldcynic Apr 2017 #17
I was 9, Granny M Apr 2017 #18
I was 10. mantis49 Apr 2017 #19
I remember it. Demtexan Apr 2017 #20
Thread title could use editing. WinkyDink Apr 2017 #22
What a wonderful post! BadGimp Apr 2017 #23
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, struggle4progress Apr 2017 #24
Actually, my first political memory was his election Maeve Apr 2017 #25
Mine was the Democratic Convention where he was nominated DFW Apr 2017 #41
I was in school and we heard the news over the new, hi-tech PA system... 2naSalit Apr 2017 #26
okay, okay, i was in 5th grade when kennedy...etc... Canoe52 Apr 2017 #27
My wife and I are both 65 DFW Apr 2017 #30
Lol, BigOleDummy Apr 2017 #36
Lol Canoe52 Apr 2017 #43
I was 19 and on home a pass from the Air Force waltben Apr 2017 #28
I was 10 years old and in 4th grade. Silver Gaia Apr 2017 #29
I'll Sign On ProfessorGAC Apr 2017 #31
I'm There RobinA Apr 2017 #32
i'm 61. barbtries Apr 2017 #33
I remember November 11, 1963 very clearly DFW Apr 2017 #34
I was ten years old. Marcuse Apr 2017 #35
Ok, I know I'm going to hell for this (and a few thousand other things), klook Apr 2017 #48
I was 15, exactly one week from my 16th birthday. mountain grammy Apr 2017 #37
Are You Experienced? Ah! Have you ever been experienced? Well, I have. LakeArenal Apr 2017 #38
JFK/FDR/LBJ/BHO generation enid602 Apr 2017 #39
The times, they are a-changin' Roy Rolling Apr 2017 #40
I was 6. I saw him the day before in Houston TexasBushwhacker Apr 2017 #42
I came home from school & DownriverDem Apr 2017 #44
High School class of '67 - turn 68 today. Going mountain hiking with friend I haven't seen since '70 NBachers Apr 2017 #45
Congrats! Same in 5 days. VOX Apr 2017 #53
I watched the Nixon-Kennedy Debates at 12 HockeyMom Apr 2017 #46
Great post - thank you! klook Apr 2017 #49
I'm the 1968 generation... eniwetok Apr 2017 #50
Class of '69. dchill Apr 2017 #51
This time let's set it up so it sticks, okay? Hugin Apr 2017 #52
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