It is said we lost our innocence then....

[Dan Murphy]

When, 39 years ago, we lost a little bit of Camelot.

Yes, maybe it can be said it was a bit idyllic, maybe unrealistic time. It was pre civil rights movement, pre Viet Nam build up and major war, pre prevalent illegal drug use, pre 'free love' era, pre many things we deal with today. Some 'not good things' have been made public in subsequent years, in our very intense desire to know everything about every public official, about his private life. He did some things wrong (they all do), and he did some things right (they all do).

But, having been part of that time, my being 19 years old then, I must honestly say that we did indeed lose some of our innocence of those days gone before. He had a magnetic quality about him that made you want to try and do good, try to make things better.

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

<center>

Don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot.

Listen to one of the greatest inaugural speeches ever</center>

 

[montessori]

Thank you, Dan. That's very nice.

 

[Robinrs]

Oh, Dan....

Every 11/22 I relive that day. It was a day I will NEVER forget though I know that most people on this board weren't even born yet.

Thanks for the fitting tribute.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

I don't remember it, though my mother tells me I watched the funeral on t.v.


so sad.

 

[preshi]

Wow...that gave me chills...

 

[Kermit]

Thank you, Dan. I had never seen some of those pictures before. He's always struck me as such a family-oriented man. I wasn't around then of course, but I'm sure it must have had a profound effect on the country.

 

[TerriP]

Thank you, Dan. This was well before my time, but as an American, I find this era very very interesting.

 

[nativetxn]

I was 14 years old and I will never forget this day There was such a feeling of doing good things for our country before he was killed. The Peace Corps was all the rage. I know we still have the peace corps but the feeling is different today

Now only Caroline remains.

 

[pumba]

coming home from highschool and some man on top of a roofing project yelled down at us and told us the news......I yelled up at him and said shame on you for saying such a terrible thing.......came home and my daddy told me.......I remember it well......thanks dan

 

[newmousecateer]

Thanks Dan. That was very nice.

I was in the high school library when I heard the news.

We did indeed lose something very special.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Thanks, Dan! I remember seeing it on TV. I was 4 at the time.

 

[EROS]

Thank you

 

[binny]

Thank you, Dan that was a nice tribute

So sad I have been thinking of Caroline all day today.


A friend of my dad's was the one who was in charge of the funeral. He said he was heartbroken and in all his years of military service that was the worst duty he had.

 

[piratesmate]

I was in 6th grade. Our gym teacher came in & told our classroom teacher - quietly, at the door. She stepped out to compose herself & then returned to tell us. She was always very pale & spoke quietly, but never like that day. Then she told us to pray, because she could . . . and we all did, because we wanted to.

Thank you for sharing. It was, indeed, a more innocent time.

Deb

 

[Boots]

I was 10 years old. In August my parents had taken me to Washington DC and the White House was one of the places we toured. Funny thing is I don't remember the house, just seeing Caroline Kennedy's pony, Macroni! That and Smokey the Bear at the zoo. Guess we know what impressed me!!!! Thanks for the wonderful tribute to him Dan.

 

[JAP]

Definitly a sad day in history. Someone mentioned Caroline. I feel bad for her as well. This must be a horrible time of year for her.

 

[snoopy]

I was just a twinkle in my parents eyes, but I grew up hearing about this awful day.

I too have been thinking of poor Caroline today. How sad she must feel without her family.

 

[December99]

I was not born yet but it is hard to believe what everyone went through at that time. But I was home when John's plane was found missing and that that horrible day and I remember like it was yesterday. It's amazing the tragedies that have happened in our lives that make us stop and think later about what we were doing on that particular day.

Thanks Dan - the past that I wasn't a part of has always fascinated me.

 

[BabyLove99]

Today in school in my Economics class we spent the whole period discussing the assassination and watching a videa on it. My teacher told us how he remembered everything about that day, where he was, what he was wearing, etc. He told us that we should remember this isn't Hollywood, this was a real man who was killed who left behind family members. Sad day

 

[AR]

Thanks Dan. I remember being in my dorm room and hearing the news. For the next few days, we all crowded in one dorm room to watch the news and funeral on a tiny TV. Hardly anyone had TVs in college then. Everything was cancelled - a very somber time indeed.