topic Re: 60 Years Ago Today in Community Chat

60 Years Ago Today

Shelbelle — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 17:59:10 GMT

We lost JFK, the news came in the afternoon. If you were around and remember it first hand, what were you doing when the news spread. I was in the 6th grade, and we got dismissed early.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

Meowingkitty — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:04:01 GMT

I was in 3rd grade. Just got back from lunch and we also got released early.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

LavernLuvsShoes — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:06:45 GMT

I learned of the asassination when I walked in the door (from school) - It was all over the TV news, and I was stunned, shocked and saddened that our "beloved" President could be killed in broad daylight.

I'll never forget that awful day!

(I had just turned 11 years old 2 weeks earlier.)

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

Zhills — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:06:20 GMT

I was at a small grocery in Florida. The cleark said, "Isn't it terrible about the President being shot?" I had not heard it yet.

I got in the car and turned the radio on and it was all over the news! It had just happened. Remember it well!

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

kaydee50 — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:09:22 GMT

It is hard to believe that it has been 60!!! years.

I was a freshman in high school, in a civics class. Remember it clearly.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

proudlyfromNJ — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:11:20 GMT

I was a sophomore in high school and we were dismissed early. When I got home my Mom was crying.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

PhilaLady1 — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:14:21 GMT

I was 5 years old. I do not remember, but my dear old friend, same age as me, we went to school together, we grew up together. She tells me she remembers parents rushing in to our kindergarten class to pick us up. All were crying, some loudly.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

I am still oxox — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:16:17 GMT

I was in 3rd grade, I was home sick from school and upset that I was going to miss my Girl Scout Fly Up, About 2PM the world changed forever. I think we had the tv on and I remember Walter Cronkike breaking in. My grandmother came up to our apt crying to stay with us my brother was 5 at the time, my mother was on her way to an allergist appointment. The next four days are a blurb. Its strange I am not sure if I have actual memories, or I remember seeing the news coverage year after year.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

Tinkrbl44 — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:25:18 GMT

Before we were told I had noticed several teachers standing out in the hall, talking quietly, and it looked serious.

Our lovely teacher, Miss Pavalock, had gotten engaged the week before and we were all so happy for her. Suddenly, she was crying and I couldn't imagine why until the announcement was made by the principal.

None of us could believe this was even possible.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

rockygems123 — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:36:16 GMT

@Shelbelle

Sister Vianney came in the room to tell us that he was shot and I'd never seen a human have a true gray dark cast. She looked very ill. We knew it was bad.

As with the rest of the world it really affected us all including the religious community as he was the first Catholic president.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

J Town Girl — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:44:06 GMT

I was in my freshman year at the parochial high school I attended. Our principal came on the intercom and announced that President Kennedy had been shot.

We were dismissed early. It was particularly distressing for our parish because one of our priests had developed a friendship with the Kennedy's when he was a parish priest at the church where the Kennedy's attended Mass.

I remember we had a special Mass to honor John Kennedy.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

Malcontent — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:46:53 GMT

Sixty years ago today Pops and I married.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

Winkk — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:48:02 GMT

I remember this so clearly. I was at work walking down the hall and someone came out and said they heard about it on the radio. Everyone was in shock.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

Eleanor55 — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 03:05:19 GMT

I was 8 years old, in 3rd grade. We had just come in from recess, after lunch, East Coast time. I went to a Catholic school & the nun told us that the President was hurt in Texas & she had us say a prayer for him, praying he would recover. School dismissed normally a few hours later. When I got home, it was all over the radio & tv.

For the next four days, we sat at our big dining room table, in front of the black & white tv. One of my aunts & uncles came over to watch tv with us. Hushed voices. I remember my mother putting out a big box of assorted Stella D'oro cookies & making tea as we watched the tv.

I will never forget those 4 days.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

lgfan — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:51:45 GMT

I wasn't born yet when Kennedy was assassinated but I do remember Reagan's attempted assassination in the early 1980's.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

Mi47 — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:53:43 GMT

11th grade high school. Stopped to get a drink of water at water fountain, heard another student that the president had been shot, thought they were talking about a student president of a club. Got into class, teacher came in crying and she told the class what had happened in Dallas. The bus ride home was in total silence.

The year before, I met and shook his hand when he made a visit to Detroit.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

millieshops — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 19:07:12 GMT

I was in my first year as a teacher. I was standing by my classroom door at dismissal when a girl from one of my morning classes skidded to a stop in front of me and through her tears told me JFK had been shot.

We had no TV's in the school, but there was a radio in the teachers' lounge. On a normal, that room would have been vacant after dismissal. About half of the faculty stood silently shoulder to shoulder and listened to the reports as the news came in. Only when hope was gone did the group talk and walk out.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

twinsister — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 19:18:59 GMT

I was in the 5th grade - 11 years old. Another teacher came into our classroom and whispered something to my teacher and they both started to cry. She told us and then an announcement over the PA system said we were going home early. The next four days our TV was on and we were glued to it. I remember seeing Jack Ruby shoot Oswald and the funeral.

A few years earlier, in 1960, JFK was campaigning in Brooklyn at an outdoor rally. My father wanted to see him and he took me along. We were able to get up front and I remember JFK looking down at me and smiling. Will never forget it.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

Kachina624 — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 19:21:48 GMT

I had just graduated from college and was biding my time working at Lit Bros. Department Store in suburban Philly prior to entering my class in Officer Training School in the USAF.

The news came over a TV that was playing in an adjacent department. Of course everyone was stunned and went through the rest of the work day pretty much in a trance. Everyone just wanted to get home and be with their families.

Re: 60 Years Ago Today

qualitygal — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 19:29:08 GMT

Was in my 11th grade, history class. So shocked. Didn't go home early, but I think a number of people we also in shock.