Reply #4: I never forget.........

[Historic NY]

I was 8 then, I had met President Kennedy in May of 63. We were going on a class trip to a local farm when we heard all kinds of sirens coming behind the school bus. The driver pulled off as far as he could but it still slowed the motorcade down to a crawl. President Kennedy was heading to West Point to address the cadet graduation. We youngsters all started yelling and screaming "President Kennedy, President Kennedy", that big black car then stopped and JFK got out and came onto our school bus. I was so excited, meeting my hero and as kids we all got a bit quiet. I remember the teachers were in shock, they couldn't believe he actually was standing there. He talked with us all, shook hands, patted us on our heads, asked us our names. I couldn't wait to get home that day. Then 5 months later he was dead, I was in Catholic School then and everybody cried. I remember the local motorcycle cop who helped us on the school buses for early dismissal crying. The nuns were stunned, and pretty much the entire area came to a standstill. I got home and stayed in front of the TV crying for the next several days. I couldn't understand, why someone would want to kill, my new friend & hero. The 60's were not kind to me in my youth, losing both parents by the time I was 12, but the loss of my hero and his brother have had a deep effect on me until this day. JFK's death still is a vivid reminder that time is short and to make the best of each day. It changed my view of the world.