Jfk
 

I just realized that Nov. 21 will be the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy. Does that make me feel old or what?

I believe the 22nd.

It seems like it was yesterday.

No, yesterday was October 9.

Lol

President Kennedy was assassinated on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas.

On the preceding Monday, November 18th he visited Tampa, Florida, where I was working as a Deputy Sheriff.

Among his stops that day was the Ft. Homer Hesterly, Florida National Guard Headquarters. I was initially assigned to provide security at the door where the Presidential motorcade arrived. Once the dignitaries had moved inside I was replaced at that post by a Secret Service agent.

The agent in charge of the site told me he had another assignment for me. Eager to be of assistance I was more than ready.

Imagine my reaction when I was told that I was to guard the door to the mens restroom. But my reaction changed quickly when I was told that the President was inside and I was not to allow anyone else to enter.

A short time later President Kennedy emerged, smiled and nodded to me and said, "Thanks" and proceeded on stage to make a speech.

Being at leisure at that point I walked out to the motorcade cars and looked over the limousine and follow up cars.

Little did I know at the time that I would be recruited by the Secret Service and 18 months later I would be a Secret Service Agent.

I think it ended our innocence more than any other event. He may not have been the greatest president we've ever had but his charisma overshadowed a lot of shortcomings. And it does seem like yesterday, regardless of today's date.

I was a junior in high school in shorthand class getting ready to go to typing class when our principle announced on the PA system that the president had been shot. When we got to typing class (which next door) they announced he had died. It was such a traumatic event. Whether he was a good president or not, makes no difference. He was the president of the United States. I know, as a teenager, I was devastated and glued to the TV through out the next week. I will never forget.
Maybe others can tell us what and where they were at that moment

It does make me feel old remembering being in the Navy at the time going to school in Bainbridge Md.

Fifty years ago. My guess is everyone reading this has a vivid mental picture of exactly where they were, who was there, etc. when they heard the news.

I was walking back to my fraternity house after a class. A couple of coeds were who were crying were walking toward me on the same walkway. They were both crying and I asked them why. They told me the president had just been shot. I hurried to my fraternity house and watched the news on TV the rest of the day. It had a HUGE impact on the whole world.

Quite a story Carl. I'd love to sit down with you someday and hear your experiences. The Secret Srvc. has always interested me.

That's a great story. I was across the bay in St. Petersburg. A 13 year old at Southside Jr. High and we had just come in from PE and were taking showers in the gym when the coach told everyone the President had been shot. The closest I came to your story was 7 years later in basic training at Ft. Polk, LA they recruited me for 'White House Communications'. I turned it down to remain with my enlistment choice of air traffic controller.

I was 6 years old and in school at the time. The nuns were crying when they told us and we were all dismissed. When I got home, my Mom was watching the tv and crying. She explained what happened by telling me that Caroline and John John's dad was in Heaven.

we were sent home from school..and my dad came home from work..it was the first time that our tv was on from the start of the funeral to the end.. we were allowed to watch tv only on sunday evenings to watch disney.. so very confusing for a 9 year old watching the same picture on the tv for hours..while my parents both shed tears