Where Were You on November 22?
Share your most vivid memories of a mind-bending day
JFK Facts wants to hear from readers of a certain age who can remember the events of November 22, 1963.
Where were you when you heard the news that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated? Describe your reaction. What was the reaction of people around you? What did your parents and your friends (and your enemies) say and do?
Were you watching TV when Lee Harvey Oswald was killed by Jack Ruby? What was your reaction? And the reaction of people around you?
If you attended JFK’s funeral, what do you recall about that event?
And finally, tell us (briefly please) what impact November 22 had on your life.
Please give us your reminiscences in the comment board. We will publish a selection in the days to come.
Thanks from the JFK Facts staff.
I was in eighth grade history class when one of our math teachers walked into the classroom with a very somber look on his face. He leaned down, whispered something to our teacher, and tears immediately rolled down her face.
We all started looking at one another trying to figure out what happened when the principal of the school came over the PA system and announced that President Kennedy had been shot and killed in Dallas.
We all went into shock with the news. There was hardly a word spoken in the hallways as we changed classes.
On that Sunday I was sitting in the floor doing homework watching television. My memory is vivid I had just taken a sip of milk when Oswald was murdered. My first thought was “how does that happen in a police station “. With mixed emotions I was glad that Kennedy’s “killer” was dead but we would not know why he did it.
Like everyone else we watched the presidents funeral. Jackie dressed in black, very stoic, John-John saluting. The deathly quiet along the parade route. It was so quiet one could hear the clomp of the horses hooves as they pulled the caisson. The tears in my eyes when I saw the riderless horse.
How did it change my life? Even as a not-yet teenager I realized this country would kill hope.
When the magic bullet crap came out, the grassy knoll, the Zapruder film, I knew we were being lied to.
Ever since then I have wanted to know who killed my President.
Because of President Kennedy and his ideals I joined the Peace Corps immediately after college. Since returning I have worked for social justice and equal rights for our citizens.
Before I die I want to know who killed “my President”.
I was in the 6th grade at St. Margaret Catholic grammar school in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. (Note: JFK was confirmed at St. Margaret church in 1927 when the Kennedys lived in Riverdale). Sister Joan, was buzzed on the classroom intercom when she answered the call she reacted with shock in her voice. She then announced the President’s had been killed and we would be going over to the church. The entire school (600+ students) filed into the church where Fr. Kildoyle led the student body in prayer for JFK. When arrived home my mother had the TV on with Walter Cronkite. I vividly remember when the plane arrived at Andrew’s AF base and the casket being loaded into the hearse and LBJ speaking. My brother and sister ate our dinner in the living room so we could watch the Television.
My entire family was in the living room on Sunday when my parents were on the way out the door when Ruby shot Oswald and we all sat down and watched the events unfold on TV.
Interesting side note: My wife was in the fifth grade at St. Margaret’s and she has the same memories as mine. We did not know each other then, we met in her senior year of high school.
The JFK assassination, has always held my interest, probably because I saw him on the Saturday before Election Day in 1960 when his campaign motorcade stopped briefly at St.Margaret’s church and rolled down the window of his Cadillac limousine and looked up at the Church Steeple and then waved to the assembled crowd outside the church, and then proceeded to the Grand Concourse where h gave two speeches.
I have visited Dealey Plaza on several occasions, on business trips, as well as the hotel JFK stayed at in Fort Worth.