Kennedy’s assassination leaves lasting memories

Friday, Nov. 22 marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy as he rode along the parade route in Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. Kennedy was fatally shot by a sniper, later identified as Lee Harvey Oswald, as he traveled with his wife, Jacqueline, and Texas Gov. John Connally, and Connally’s wife, Nellie, in a presidential motorcade.
A 10-month investigation by the Warren Commission followed, which concluded Kennedy was assassinated by Oswald, who acted alone. Oswald was subsequently killed by Jack Ruby, who also acted alone, before Oswald could stand trial, the report said.
Those details are etched in the memories of most who were old enough to comprehend the tragedy, including many individuals who’ve called Maine home — now or in the past. The following are some of their recollections of the event and how it affected them.
Patty Leblanc, of Presque Isle, was a college student at the time.
“I was at UMPI. I wrote a poem dated Nov. 26, 1963 and sent it to Jackie. I still have the thank-you note from her. It’s framed and in my office. Everything she received is filed in the JFK Library. I believe she was the only person in history to be able to send U.S. mail with no postage, just her signature,” said Leblanc.
Leblanc also paid tribute to the fallen president when she owned Winnie’s Restaurant.
“Decor was a ‘60s theme. I had every article I’d collected on Kennedy’s assassination framed and mounted in the restaurant. I had newspaper clippings, LIFE magazine,” said Leblanc.
Leblanc’s poem entitled “Why?” covers the tragedy, from the people lining the parade route to the final salute from little John, as his father’s casket passed by during the funeral. The poem ends with the following lines: “Let us not weep for him, he was not taken — just borrowed. Now he’s in God’s hands, never again to know sorrow. I will never forget — He will always be in my memory. And until the day I die, I will cherish John F. Kennedy.”
Sharon Wiggins Cole, of Presque Isle, said her husband, Ralph Cole, remembered being in the military when he heard the news.
“Ralph was in Antarctica serving in the Navy when he got the news. It was a sad day for the group of guys he served with,” said Cole.
Rod Collins, of Bridgewater, was in the military as well when he got word of what happened.
“I was on the drill field at Fort Dix, N.J. Not much changed to our schedule; we kept ‘keeping on.’ I remember we had formation during the funeral though.”
Skipp Serrano, formerly of Presque Isle and now residing in Charlotte, N.C., was in the Air Force on that fateful day.
“I had just signed in at my new assignment at Charleston AFB, S.C., when the news came over the radio. All stopped; everyone was in shock. For about 20 minutes no one dared say anything. I left the base to go home and be with my wife. She hadn’t heard yet,” said Serrano.
Alice Bolstridge, of Presque Isle, recalled being with her young child when she heard the news.
“I was in my car with my 2-year-old daughter. I stopped at someone’s house in Nashville — don’t remember whose, nor why I stopped. A man there told me about it. I felt stung, unbelieving. I went home and watched the black and white TV for days. Voting for JFK was my first political act that I remember. I had such hope for a better world with that vote,” said Bolstridge. “I’m still yearning for that hope to reappear.”
Several were students when the president was killed.
Andrea Bard Smith, of Mapleton, recalled hearing what happened over lunch.
“My sister and I had walked home from elementary school for lunch. It was her birthday that day. We had just sat down to eat our soup and sandwich when Walter Cronkite came on the TV to inform the public on what had just transpired. The three of us (she, her mother and sister) just stood in the front of the TV and cried,” said Smith.
Kathi Gordon Beaulieu, of Ashland, remembers her father’s reaction.
“The thing I remember the most about that — I was just 8 — was seeing my father sitting at the kitchen table listening to the news on the radio, with tears streaming down his face,” said Beaulieu.
Brian McQuarrie, of Fort Fairfield, was in elementary school when the news broke.
“I was in second grade at St. Mary’s School in Houlton when the principal came in and told the class. School was dismissed and I remember going home and seeing my mom watching the news on TV. She was upset. I also remember watching the TV when Jack Ruby shot Oswald. I also remember that nothing was the same afterwards,” said McQuarrie.
Jim Kaiser, of Presque Isle, was also in school at the time.
“I was in fifth grade in Mr. Golden’s class in Merritt Island Elementary School in Florida. The principal came into the classroom and made the announcement. School was dismissed and I rode the bus home. There was a lot of crying and my parents were very concerned,” said Kaiser.
Joseph Haines, of Mapleton, was a teenager at the time.
“I was at Wilmington High in Wilmington, Mass. The news of his death came across the loud speaker. It was a total shock,” said Haines.
Though too young to have vivid memories of the day, Scott Englund, of Caribou, still recalls his mother’s response.
“I was 3 years old, so it’s a bit fuzzy. A woman up the road called my mother and said ‘They shot that little feller.’ My mother turned on the TV and I remember seeing Walter Cronkite. I’m pretty sure that was when he announced the death of JFK,” said Englund.
There are many instances in life that are burned into our memories: graduating from high school, marriage, the birth of a child, the loss of a loved one. But like the eternal flame upon his grave, the death of President John F. Kennedy burns forever in the nation’s memory, recalling a man who’d achieved great things but died too soon.