h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

As I started to continue my stories today, I noticed the Date. As we traditionally hold the Journal challenge in November I have been trying to avoid 'this day in history'. It is a bit unfair to the events of the other 11 months.

But it was on this day, in 1963, America lost its innocence. Today I will direct you to one of our Entries in the Guide A3773225 - the shooting of John F Kennedy. I remember the author well from my early days here, and he wrote some very fine Entries.

Rather than trying to add anything to this report let me just add a few personal memories. I was at school, in the 6th grade, when they made the announcement over the pubic address system. We were all stunned that such a thing could happen. The President had been in Tampa only a week before he visited Dallas.

For the next several days, before the funeral, life in the US almost came to a complete halt. Schools were closed, almost all businesses reduced to a skeleton crew and only the most vital workers had to report for their duties. The rest of us sat watching our (mostly black and white) televisions, where all the regular programming had been cancelled. Instead we watched an almost continuous news broadcast, with interludes of sombre music when there was nothing left to be said.

We all watched when the accused assassin was shot to death on live television, I remember his hand dragging on the ground as they rushed him to the waiting ambulance. I did not yet realize that he was beyond caring about such things.

After laying in state in both the White House and Capitol Rotunda the funeral mass was held at the Cathedral and he was carried on his last journey to Arlington A87805605 on a horse drawn caisson.

I can still see the pathetic sight of his young son saluting the coffin as it passed him standing on the steps. The internment and the lighting of the 'Eternal Flame'.

Life did return to normal afterwards, but nothing would ever seem as secure as it was before

I have probably said enough.

I do encourage you to read a few of the links in J's Entry.



F S

You were in the 6th grade, and I was in the 10th. I think I can guess your age.

[Amy P]