Remembering Kennedy

I was only 14 years old and sitting in Spanish class. The teacher had just asked me a question — before I could reply, an announcement came over the school intercom, informing us that President John Kennedy had just been assassinated. We were all stunned, and weren’t sure what to do or say. Our Spanish teacher, however, just picked up as though nothing happened, and asked me to answer her question. I proceeded to count from 10 to 0 in Spanish. When class was over, the principal let us go home early. Even at that young age, I liked President Kennedy. In social studies class, we studied his inaugural speech – which, to this day, I believe is one of the finest American speeches ever given; Kennedy stated that “the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God” and then he closed with those immortal words, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

I rushed home from school that day and watched the frightening images on TV with my family, thinking, This doesn’t happen in America… This only happens in countries where there are terrible problems. To me, it was a rude wake-up call that no country is safe from evil people and their wicked schemes. Kennedy’s assassination ushered in a different era in America, and more than ever, we need to pray for our country and its leaders! Do you remember where you were when Kennedy was shot? I’d like to hear about it… :-).