Where were YOU?

[Firea100]

22 November, 1963
Just finished getting a drink of water with my third grade classmates at Immaculate Conception School in Detriot Michigan.
Our Teacher (Mrs. Suski) shepherded us back into our classroom with tears in her eyes and mascara running down her cheeks, saying nothing of what she was just told by our principal. Finally, after she composed her self enough to be able to speak, she calmly tried to answer our questions. I Do remember, and will NEVER forget.

 

[Rod69]

I was in eighth grade science class when they announced it over the intercom system. There was a sudden silence like you had never heard before. People that wasn't there just don't know how the feeling was. Our family also watched Jack Ruby shoot Oswald, it was unbelievable.

 

[rmrc51]

I was in elementary school. As I was walking up the stair case I saw one of my female teachers (I believe her name was Mrs. Kaplan) crying and being hugged by one of the male teachers. The girl who I was walking next to, starred at me and then back to the two teachers as we both wondered what had happened. That's when we heard about the President.

 

[mhgoldwing]

I was a Texas high school senior sitting in English class. Announcement made over PA system. Stunned. It was also our final home football game of the season and the last thing we players had on our mind was football.

 

[iaff84]

I was a safety patrol boy in sixth grade at Harrison elementary. Went to my corner at end of school day, lady on porch of house on corner had a radio and ask me if I had heard the news about the President. Remember going a block back to school and telling them, do not remember going back to my corner that day. 50 years, seems like just a short time and times that I remember as being very different.
Dennis

 

[Nana]

As an 11 year old missionary's kid born and living in central Africa (Rwanda at the time), I was far removed from the politics of the States. But even there the news came to us (probably on the ham radio). My parents were very sober and sad and we kids were bewildered that such a thing could happen. We saw and knew of much inter-tribal conflict and cruelty around us in Rwanda, where we were at the time, but I think none of us realized the political turmoil and violence that marred the States through the 60's. Living on a mission, even in Rwanda, can be a very insulating and "safe" place from the turmoil in the rest of the world, and I no doubt had a very idealized perception of a wonderful North America.

 

[Trent]

Sitting in 4th grade class in Layton, Utah, when my teacher Mrs Simmons came in the room crying. Told us the Pres had been shot and killed. That afternoon the whole school went outside around the Flagpole and they lowered it to half staff, then we all got out early. Was watching live on TV a coupla days later when Ruby shot Oswald. 3 days later, my Uncle and Cousin, (his 12 year old son) were killed when the Piper they were flying in to go elk hunting, crashed into the Flathead River in Montana. That was chaotic couple of weeks and I can remember it all like it happened yesterday.

 

[John Luciano]

I was home sick ( probably the only day of my entire high school years) I was watching the parade. Mom says your home sick do something educational watch the president.. Not more than a few min later I yelled they shot him. mom yelled. WHO . Then the rest of the day we were glued to the 21" B&W TV. We saw the arrest of Harvey and them walking him out into the parking garage. Jack RUBY pushed his way through the crowed and we herd the shots. I guess it had not entirely sunk in at that point. We were watching HISTORY.
In 1991 I visited the grassy Nole. Visited my friend in Dallas. His father was a police officer that day in a car following the Presidents car.

 

[MDGeorge]

I was in the fourth grade at Hawthorne elementary School in NE Atlanta.
The principal announced it over the intercom. Teacher began crying, and don't remember anything after that.

I do remember that the president of our country used to be a hero. What happened to that?

 

[GARYD]

I was in the middle of the hand grenade class at Camp Pendleton. We were all told to get out of the fox holes and sit down in the bleachers and they told of what had happened. Everyone looked around thinking that we maybe gearing up for war(if it was Russian involvement).

 

[427dave]

Boy all of you young whipper snappers. I had worked 3rd shift (midnight-8:30) and was home asleep when my wife woke me up. We had a very old black and white tv that we stayed glued to the rest of the day and evening until I had to go back to work.

 

[Blueribbon]

I was in my freshman year of college at New Mexico State University. I had a part time job with McDonald (soon to become McDonald-Douglas Aircraft) working on the recon version of the F4 Phantom jet. At first people in the engineering section did not believe it and as we did not have a radio or TV in our building, had to make phone calls to get the news. No more work completed for that day.

 

[rwhgme]

At home..school was out...eating lunch watching a soap opera..the break in broadcast of Walter Cronkite...a world of innocence ends...

 

[cirbtap]

I was stationed in England as a Air Police. The whole base went on "Red Alert"
After we all heard about the President, everything went back to normal.
We had a mock funeral two days later.

Ride safe

Pat

 

[Birdman-68]

I was on leave in Washington D.C. from the US Air Force. I was there to be best man in a friends wedding when we saw it on TV. We called back to the base to find out what we should do, and we were instructed to go ahead with our plans, but check in daily in case we had to report back to North Dakota.

 

[suvcw04]

I was working in the composing room of a newspaper in my home town.

The Day the World Changed. Forever. And, not for Good.

 

[turboman1354]

4th grade L J Bell in Rockingham NC they announced over sco intercom I remember everybody in state of shock

 

[JimmyDee]

Was at Carolina Military Academy and being a military school we observed protocol, for what seemed like weeks.

 

[Big Dog]

I was in the 6th grade, we were watching the parade on tv, in Timonium,Md.. The rest of the day doesn't even register, till my folks talked to us around the dinner table. And my dad thought that we could be headed into rough times.

 

[starrider60]

I was a sophomore at texas tech sitting on the lawn in front of the social studies building when the professor drove up and motioned for me to join him in his 1950 ford sedan. We sat and listened to the radio until class time. We went to class and continued to listen on a portable radio until the prof, with tears, said "our country will survive even this" and dismissed class

 

[Gold Rush]

Setting in Ladysmith Highschool sophomore citizenship/government class when the announcement came over the intercom. I have always thought how ironic that was. A bunch of young students being taught as we were when our president was killed.

 

[2006gold]

Junior year of high school.The entire school was deadly quiet the rest of the day.

 

[Veritas44]

Reading all these remembrances,,, passionate, Patriotic, unified, proud yet humble, sincere, selfless, soulful, Real.
Incredibly moving,

I mourn for our Country and grieve for our loss.
For the Now much more than the Then.

Sad commentary indeed that on our worst day then; We, the United States of America, were still so much "better" than our best day now.

I personally was only 2 months into gestation that day. None the less, heartfelt respect and thanks to President Kennedy for his dutiful service and ultimate sacrifice.
Apologies for what WE have done with what HE gave All for.

 

[Ozarkryder]

The phone rang in our class. Teacher listened for a minute then started to cry. She anounced the news and I remember a few of the girls started to cry, the rest of us took our cue from the teacher and remained somber for the rest of the day. Being 2nd graders, the full implications didn't sink in. Mostly I remember being disappointed there was nothing on all 3 channels on the TV except coverage of the event, the laying in state, the funeral and the procession. Will never forget the horse with the boots reversed in the stirrups and Jackie prompting John-John to step out in the street and salute as the hearse went by.

 

[Moe55]

I was a junior in high school working in the auto shop class. The 3 instructors called us all to the main shop floor they were very upset we did not know why. They told us the President has been shot and did not survive. In high school none of us were very political but after that news 30 guys and 3 instructors all had tears in their eyes. Everyone just walked out and went home.

 

[oneup]

i was almost 1 year old. it was less than a week to my first birthday. probably crawling around on the floor with a pooh in my pants. we were living in England at the time.

- - - Updated - - -

i must be the forum baby

 

[Shimpy]

Seems like I'm older than most of you. I was setting in a classroom in Bainbridge Md. on the U.S Naval base. They interupted the class to notify us of what happened. Later when the funeral was held, I was walking from my barracks to watch duty at that same school when I had to stop and salute when they fired the salute with the cannons.

 

[Doug D.]

I was three years old. To this day, I remember watching the funeral on a small black & white television set at the home of a neighbor who babysat my siblings and I...

 

[Bikerbozo]

According to my mother, I was sitting watching cartoons when the news came on. Yes, I realize that could be now with me also. I was 2 1/2 then.My mother said she grabbed me and ran outdoors (in East Flatbush, Brooklyn) to talk to all the neighbors about it.

 

[SMSgt]

I was in my home room class of Ms. Clark, Central Jr. High School in Ogden, UT. It was 4th period, we were doing whatever we did in class and the school PA came on the Principal came on and said that the "President of the United States was dead.... The President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was dead." We were all in shock. Lunch was next and we all just wondered the hallways like a bunch of teenage zombies. I will never forget.