50 Years Later

The picture shown was made on September 21, 1960 in Memphis, Tennessee by now U. S. Congressman Steve Cohen of Tennessee.

He and I were both teenagers standing in the same area in Memphis as Presidential-candidate John F. Kennedy’s motorcade made its way into town where he was to speak to a large crowd gathered by the Mississippi River. Kennedy’s motorcade was taking advantage of a live televised broadcast that day.

Our family was at the television station to watch two of the children on a afternoon kitty program when the program was interrupted to show the motorcade. We were told to quickly go outside to see Kennedy pass by.

Through the years the vision of Kennedy sitting on the back of the convertible, waving and smiling and making eye contact with us, has not diminished and it is the vision I want to keep, not the one in Dallas.

Tomorrow, November 22nd, 1963, fifty years ago, most of us our age know where we were when they heard the tragic news of Kennedy’s assassination. Everything stopped. Even now hearing the famous broadcast when Kennedy’s death was announced pulls at our heartstrings. Our nation has never forgotten.

Thanks to Congressman Cohen for agreeing to share this photo with us.