As I was looking through the files of my departed father, I chanced upon a magazine and newspaper clippings on the death and funeral of John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States of America. I never thought that my father was one of the millions of Americans who mourned the tragic loss of the President, he being a Republican by heart.
In the succeeding photographs, I could see the millions of mourners that lined the streets, staring blankly at the coffin draped zealously by a
custom American Flag, followed by hundreds of dignitaries around the globe who came for the funeral. I can sense that the atmosphere must be deafening, with only the cortege of white horses and its thumping sound breaking the stillness of the occasion.
Also there were hundreds of condolences extended by Presidents and Heads of State of various nations coming from all over. Then as testament to the President's greatness and stature as a leader, are several articles written about how he handled situations that could have led to worldwide hostilities, if the same has not been ably addressed and a world war could have again erupted?
John Kennedy died by an assassin's bullet on November 22, 1963 and was laid to rest at the Arlington National Cemetery on November 25, 1963. He was accorded with a State Funeral unmatched in the entire history of the country, a procession that started at the Capitol, stopped briefly at the White House, then on to St. Matthew's and to the several miles trip to Arlington.
The caisson carrying the Presidents casket was pulled by six horses together with the National Color and the President's Flag, followed by the limousines and cars of hundreds if not thousands of mourners.
by:
The Flagman
