Remembering John F. Kennedy Assassination—Account from 6-Year Old Living in Dallas that Fateful Day

During our history, there are certain events that make you stop and pause. On the anniversary of those events, we often reflect on what we were doing on those days. How many remember November 22, 1963, the day someone assassinated President John F. Kennedy? That day made an indelible imprint on me, as I was an impressionable 6-year old attending Catholic school in Dallas that fateful day.

In 1963, I was a first-grader attending Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School, located just a few blocks from the corner of Oaklawn and Lemmon Avenues; an intersection on the President's traveling route from Dallas Love Field Airport to downtown Dallas.

The Daughters of Charity Catholic nuns at our school decided that it would be beneficial for each student to witness the momentous occasion of the President visiting our city. Therefore, they organized a field trip to that intersection, which was just a short walk from our school. Shortly before noon, the entire school, from first graders to eighth graders, made the procession to that intersection, lining the sidewalk of Lemmon Avenue.

We patiently awaited his arrival and were excited to see him approach from the north, the direction of Dallas Love Field Airport. As the President's motorcade arrived, it slowed, pausing briefly, allowing us a closer look at him and the other passengers. He was waving and smiling. I remember thinking that his wife, the First Lady, had on the prettiest pink outfit, with the cutest pink hat.

Within minutes, the motorcade was gone. As we walked back to the school, I remember thinking how much fun it was to go on a field trip and to see such an important man. I also was reflecting on the attractiveness of the First Lady and I wanted to own a pink outfit and hat like hers one day. The entire school was jovial and giddy as we arrived back at the school, just in time to eat lunch.

However, our joy was short-lived. We soon discovered that the President had been shot and was rushed to Parkland Hospital.  Several children noticed our soft-spoken pastor running hurriedly across the schoolyard that day. Later we learned that it was our church pastor, Father Oscar Huber, a Vincentian priest, who administered the Last Rites to mortally wounded President John F. Kennedy that historic day.

When I first began going to school, I liked it. Learning to read was fun because our teacher, Sister Mary Carol, was very energetic and employed colorful phonetic flip charts as teaching tools. However, with the news of the shooting, the atmosphere the rest of the day became very somber. All learning ceased, as the nuns were distraught and therefore, instructed the entire school to keep a prayerful vigil.

I never gave much thought to the leader of our nation before that day. I knew he was important, but I did not truly understand how much others loved him until he was killed. Furthermore, I discovered a very important human characteristic in the aftermath of the tragedy: people sometimes blame others inappropriately for destructive actions.

As the days and weeks unfolded in 1963, there was an onslaught of negative publicity about Dallas and the Dallas police force. As a small child, I did not understand why the nation was calling our city 'a terrible place' and 'they killed the President.' How could a place kill the President?

I have since discovered that blame is used as a way for people to feel better about themselves. In a time when the nation was terribly hurt, many lashed out with blame to ease their own internal pain of loss. 

Almost 50 years have passed since that auspicious day. The President loved the nation and served it with the sacrifice of his own life. Blame is a form of degradation. Therefore, it is not a constructive attribute, but instead, is indicative of someone who thinks they know better than another does. Is this not a form of judgment, as one seeks superiority over another? Therefore, wouldn't it be a proper memorial for President John F. Kennedy if every citizen chose to release all blame and judgment? 

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