Saturday, November 22, 2008

November 22, 1963~Do you remember that day?


I will never forget that November day. I was working the grave yard shift at the phone company and had gone to bed about 9am leaving my young daughter, Julie in the care of a live in babysitter. I woke up about 4 o'clock in the afternoon because of all the noise coming from the living room. The TV was blaring, I could hear the babysitter crying, sobbing actually "oh no, oh no." I got up and went out into the other room to see what all the commotion was about...and there it was on the television. The President had been shot! I was stunned~how could this happen? The images were flashing across the screen, the newscasters were updating the situation almost by the minute. Then the news came that JFK had not survived~he was gone.
I can't even remember now if I voted for the man, but the fact that someone had assassinated him was unbelievable to me. This was the USA, not some third world country with guerrilla's roaming about seeking to take out the country's current leader.
I was up and of course could not go back to sleep. I knew it was going to be a long night. When I got to work, shortly before 11pm, it was frantic. The boards were lit up like Christmas trees. Everyone was calling long distance to talk to their family & friends about this national tragedy. Some of the "big wigs" were still there "plugging" away. (This was the age of the old cord switchboard) And extra help had been called in. Everyone was in a somber mood. During breaks people would head for the cafeteria, to have a cup of coffee and a bite to eat. But others were in the lounge area just sitting talking softly with each other, some crying~all not believing the events of the day.
Other than the fact that it was 12 days before my daughter's 2nd birthday, I will never forget that awful day. I can picture the day in my mind like it was yesterday. And I've often wondered, if he'd served his full term~how would history have been changed?
I pray everyday for the safety of our new President elect and his family. This country, no.... the world does not want to go thru another day like November 22, 1963!
Do you remember? If so what were you doing when you first heard the news?

23 comments:

Pamela said...

I was just barely 4 yrs old. My mother said that I was aware that a great man was killed. She said that because of all of the adults being upset, that it upset me.
I have no clue.
I've often wondered what would be different if he'd lived. Also if his brother Bobby had lived.
Awful times.
Pam

Ken Riches said...

I was only a little more than one year old. I share your sentiment, we do not want another day like that.

garnett109 said...

I was only one then

Lori J said...

Hi Linda, I was very surprised to ask this question while playing Trivia this am....and no response.
I was at College and although not an American we sat crying in our dorm rooms.
As time went on I was sad to find out some of the not so nice details about this man and that really Jackie was not so much the B....made out to be but her desire was to keep the children in as normal a setting as possible.
Yes, we need to pray for Obama and his family as the uniqueness of his situation could be a target for some madman out there.I missed hearing an interview with a Dr. that was present when JFK came in..did you happen to see it.

Blessings,

Alberta Lori

Andy said...

I was at my best friends 12th birthday party when the news came through. Even though I dont think we understood the situation we were aware that a world changing event had ocurred

Jeannette said...

I remember it so well Linda, I was twelve years old and we were watching the Friday night show Take Your Pick on Tv when suddenly it cut out and we saw the newsflash that JFK had been shot and was on his way to hospital. Young as I was I remember when he was pronounced dead and I couldn't believe that this man had gone so soon. It was a tragedy for the world, especially as his brother Bobby died at the hands of a gunman too. It seems the family were plagued with ill luck, JFK Jr died in a plane crash with his wife.
in 1999. I'll never forget that image of him at his fathers funeral when he stepped up to the coffin. Jeannette xx

Sugar said...

i recall it, mom & i were in the car headed to the laundromat when it came on the radio! i was 14 at the time.
hope another day like that never comes.
huggies...

Beth said...

I was just a little over a year old, so don't remember that day. I shudder to think what would happen if that were to occur with our President-Elect, and I pray for his safety.

Beth

Jan said...

Yes I too remember it Linda ,We had recently moved house and I had my two little sons, Mark and Derek and my daughter Sharon was five weeks old ,we were all glued to the TV ,and then we saw Lee Harvey Oswald shot as he was being taken somewhere ,it was a shocking thing and we never want to see the like again ..love Jan xx

Yasmin said...

Although a year before I was born i did remember JFK today.

Yasmin
x

Trees said...

hi Linda, I was 17 at the time, writing my xmas exams, and just finished my math exam and the teacher announced that the President has been shot and killed. I remember walking home in the snow with tears running down my face. What an awful tragedy, I too wonder if he had lived how the World would have been shaped.

Chrissie a.k.a. HoneyB said...

I wasn't born then, but I can't even imagine what a day it was. So awful for us as a country and for that family. I do not want to see a repeat of that ever in our history.
Take care, Chrissie

Joyce said...

WOW, so many of your readers were too young to remember this horrific event. That's a reality check in itself. I was a Senior in High School and I was at the hospital visiting a friend when the nurse came in and told us to turn the TV on. First it was shock and then disbelief and then grief. I cried pretty much the rest of the day. My parents were also devastated. It was a sad chapter in our history. He was young and the first Catholic president (which was a big deal back then). Thanks for remembering JFK Linda.
Hugs, Joyce

Frances said...

I remember that day and the disbelief as I sat watching my soaps, and they were interrupted to announce the president had been shot. I was glued to the TV, and remember Jackie with blood on her pink suit. Then after John was dead, Jackie and L.B.Johnson went aboard Air Force One where he was sworn in as president. All the people on the streets along the parade route were crying when they realized what had happened.

My children were small, so they don't remember that day.

Anonymous said...

Oh I remember it like it was yesterday, it will never fade in my mind. I was going to lunch with a girlfriend walking down Broadway by City Hall when the whole city came to a screeching halt..it was as if time stood still. Cars stopped mid motion, people were screaming, crying..honking their horns..we were just passing a store that sold TV's as we turned to see it we saw multiple reports of the tragedy..she & I were in shock & tears. We headed back to work only to find that our Japanese company (import/exporters) we so upset about his death that they were sending everyone home...for three days...no business went on there. The only way I could make this generation understand how we felt would equate to the feeling of 9/11...totally helplessness, extreme sadness...hope to God it never happens again. love, Sandi

Jeanne said...

I was only 2 at the time but I remember being in the basement of our house and my mom was watching TV and crying. I read all of the above comments and it reminded me of 9/11....when were you when it happened. I remember that all too well....

((hugs))
Jeanne

Anonymous said...

I was serving on the faculty of a large women's college. I was about to head off for a class when the news came over the radio that Kennedy had been shot. When I got to the class I told the girls that he had been shot and one of them, a senior girl, shouted "Good. I'm glad!" After graduation she became a Playboy Bunny.

Later I watch Walter Cronkite, in the very moving moment, annouce the Kennedy had died.

After I left that job I worked as an announcer for a large radio/TV station. One day I was assigned to the TV booth, for station breaks and other short announcements. While I was there the director called into the booth to say there was a routine live feed coming from the network which stations would record and air later, if I wanted to watch it. So I punched it up and saw Oswald shot live, at the moment.

An interesting historical note: Jack Ruby had changed his name from Jack Rubenstein. He shot Oswald. Thomas Corbett changed his name to Boston Corbett. He shot John Wilkes Booth.

Julie said...

I was 9 and don't remember much about it except our teachers crying and a sense of not being safe, I mean if they could kill our president......

betty said...

you are absolutely right Linda; our country can't go through something like that again; that is why we need to pray for our presidents

I was in 1st grade in school and I remember the principal announcing it over the intercom and the nuns (Catholic school) crying and leading us in prayer

amazing it has been 45 years and that Caroline Kennedy is the only surviving member of their immediate family

betty

Jimmy's Journal said...

I was just out of high school and working at my first job. The p.a. system came on and it was announced that the president had been shot and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

I kept thinking that someone would soon announce that the president underwent surgery and would be fine...but it wasn't meant to be.

We were told to go home and that we would be paid for the rest of the day. As I walked home, it just seemed to be a dream.

Jimmy

Marie Rayner said...

I shall never forget the day. My paternal Grandfather died on the same day.

Joni said...

Hi there finally figured out how to leave a comment. It was indeed a very sad day and day of shock. I had my first boy 2 days later when Jack Ruby was shot. I believe it was the first time there was extensive coverage of anything on TV, and black and white of course. Joni

Maria said...

It was a momentous day alright. ALso, my husband's birthday is on the 22nd....he has never forgotten this event... Maria