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| Sanderling on the Cape Cod National Seashore created by JFK on August 7, 1961 |
The day Kennedy was shot I was 2 weeks away from my 11th
birthday. I remember the teacher coming
into the class. She was very upset and told us the school was closing and we
all could go home. I really don’t recall
if she told us why or not but it was a very chaotic scene. The rumors were running rampant as buses were
picking up classmates and I began walking home with other students.
When I got home my mom was watching our little black and
white TV. She began to explain to me
what had just happened. But the thing
that stuck in my mind was my mom had tears in her eyes and I don’t remember
ever seeing her cry. Even when her twin sister died of cancer she
hid her emotions from me.
But it wasn't until the following day I realized the full
impact of the day before. My dad was in
the Navy and just the two of us were heading to the Submarine base. I don’t recall why we going to the base that
day but it was a very somber ride with my dad.
For as long as I could remember every time we passed through the gate at
the front of the base there were two Marines checking badges of the occupants
of each vehicle heading into and out of the base. During the early 60's the Marines were always
in dress uniform while on gate duty. To me, at age 11, the Marines were like
gods! In their dress uniforms and
wearing white gloves they were the epitome of strength, grace, goodness and
protection. If you happened to be going through the gate
at sunrise or sunset when the Flag was being raised or lowered the Marines,
just by raising their hand, had the power to make all traffic entering or
leaving the base came to a complete halt.
But that day, November 23rd, the day after JFK
died what I witnessed changed me forever.
As we approached the gate the first thing I noticed was the Flag at
half-mast. As my dad and I slowed to
enter the base the Marine on duty lowered his and looked inside to verify my
dad’s Navy badge as I’d seen them do hundreds of times before. But this time, as I glanced over I saw this young
Marine staring in at us and something very disturbing was going on. I didn't believe was it was possible. He had tears streaming down his face. His eyes were all red and I could clearly see
the pain in his face. He didn't say anything
yet his face expressed the look of wounded soldier. He just waved us through like any other day. In that moment my world lost all tranquility
and innocence.
As I was telling this story to my 35 year old son a couple
of days ago I was overcome with a flood of emotion of what happened on that day
fifty years ago, November 23rd 1963.
Gus (my husband)
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| Cape Cod National Seashore |
