Sac 7 —— WEDNESDAY, HIGHLANDER DECEMBER 18, 1963 F. Kennedy brings tears JFK’s DEATH DIMS HOLIDAYS The the assassination the startling entire world and brought about to all. Many people assembled in their places shocked united had in prayer. affected States. Leaders condolence tatives vices news of During everyone, from and from that not practically expressed those a torchlight In Britian, a when bell of to of worship sent attend Westminster United of Represenfuneral ser- to Abraham came, feelings and messages the marched in Abbey rang out the cancellation plays, of national mourning. events, Irishmen and movies displayed their walks and wept. Such noble European Quinton ni, Hogg, leftwing Kennedy’s Mohandas Ghandi. In many countries, staff in The upon the commemoration feelings leaders wept at the news. In the Vatican, Bishop India, compared er, and for a day as and knelt British Italian, Socialist Herman death as well of our events of the past unity among people on the Science leader, Westermann of all side- great several and our own, The assassination touched so many great people; yet the small people of the world prieved most. The security of the next five years (for the United States) had crumbled. The young smile and hard determination of President John Fiitzgerald Kennedy had been erased by a man’s two small bullets. Minister, Pietro Nen- of Sambalpur, to the loss of the Hindu as As Time Magazine so adequately stated, two words were all that were needed. These two words came from a woman in London as she mumbled, “My God.” Jackie Kennedy said them as her husband was hit: “Oh no!” And later a priest said them in finality as he announced, “He’s dead!” for him. a requiem usually reserved for royalty. Yugoslavia’s president, Tito, ordered sport Over the great cities of the United States, over the greatest cities of the world, and through the smallest of the villages, bells tolled on Friday, November 22nd. American soldiers saluted their flag and lowered it to half-mast. A blind Negro woman plucked at a guitar on a Washington street corner as she wept in a half sung tone, “He promised never to leave me.” tragedy the him news their the of sympathy. compared the displayed tenor country arrived wept and President mourning realized deepest and our deep inhabitants every countries people parade they the their and paid their respects. Newspapers eulogized him Lincoln. In Berlin, flags flew lead- at half- leader. days nations. had a definite They no impact longer felt the deep barriers of religion, race, and political parties, which at one time segregated them almost completely. It seemed to link the numerous countries in their tribute to John Fitzgerald Ken~~ Nees time, just of life alone. nor somehow seem ; glories. They 1 no totes hastily be thoughtless: of their neighbor. a lot more meaningful. plunge into Their lives What great deed could have taken place which so deeply affected their souls? A man gallantly gave up his life flor a country he loved and cherished. Does this man differ from countless others who died for their country? Basically, he does not. Symbolically, he differs greatly. Here lived a man who stood for all the youthful power and wisdom of a nation, our nation. He possessed all the qualities and manly virtues which we ourselves would all feel proud to own. But above all these, something else magnified him into the hearts of men. Here lived a man just in the midst of his prime. Living meant a great deal to him, and the entire world recognized this fact hastily. We all, in our own personal way, began secretly to establish a strong closeness to him. Nothing being unreplaceable, this man will also follow suit; for always in life, time seems to mend. Life must go on and life does go on, learning slowly with each mistake. The full meaning of this occurrence will take many years of living and remembering to even begin to comprehend the world’s true reaction. But without a doubt, President John F. Kennedy will be remembered as being one of the great contributors to our country. —DARRELL DIXON The news of President Kennedy’s death struck me at first as lacking reality. Crimes of that type didn’t exist in America, the Land of the Free. At least they didn’t occur to the president; but, the truth must be faced. Our president lay dead. I found that wonder, along with sorrow, replaced my shock. Why should a man, such as Oswald, given the most freedom permitted by any system anywhere on this globe, attempt to destroy democracy? I didn’t agree with President Kennedy’s policy, but I proudly backed him because he represented us and all American ideals. He stood as living proof of Democracy. How far have we permitted our nation to decay? Oswald thought of his dishonorable discharge and himself. Many stu- dents and politicians think of how all actions benefit themselves and rarely at all of whether they’re right or wrong. Let’s hope and pray that our nation contains only one man as far advanced along this path as the assassin. —JUDY BENNIT As the words stretched to everyone’s ears, pain singed even the coldest souls. Students at Ben Lomond High School sat in their classes, lurked in the halls and chattered noisily in the lunch room. When the grave news came over the loud speakers, an Schoo empty NESE mlence filled came the irom Perhaps the incident happened too far away and too suddenly to register. Perhaps it was too unexpected and too crude for people to want to understand. Many people tend to blame the people of Dallas, Texas, for this horrible deed, but as it was once so beautifully stated, “let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” As Richard Nixon remarked, “The way that each of us can pay our respects to the late President is to fill everyone’s heart with so much love it could never happen again!” I am sure we all feel as the man did who said, “I didn’t vote for him, but that murderer killed my President.” —JULYNN WESTOVER Last Day of Mourning A FINAL SALUTE Sunset burned The eastern sky Blood red. The flag, Silhouetted Against the red, Fluttered At half mast— Caught By the wind, Set free, Then caught again. “He had lived As a unifier; Died, to unify. Now his name Will serve As unifier: “Cape Kennedy”. The sunset Faded The tragic death of President John and heartache the world. to millions Granted, we of. people all feel throughout a sorrow so the nation deep that and words only cry out their inadequacy, but our sorrow cannot even parallel that of Mrs. world of through Mrs. Kennedy. this She, a widow, nightmarish Kennedy now lies lives alone. tragedy: interred an with Lives? empty the Her shell. ‘Part husband she so loved. The wound of the flesh sears also the soul. A gash of grief inflicted atrociously will torture the heart of this woman forever. Soon the first layer of protection will cover the wound, but it will still flinch at the touch. Layers upon layers of protection will add themselves to the wound, and it will appear less noticeable as time moves on. But even though the wound itself fades away, to the wearer the scar left behind will remain a reminder of the past. A brave woman bears the title of Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy. May God bless her for her strength, and may she, with her husband, complete their happiness in the world to come. —JOYCE Our President’s of us throughout a new and sorrow. News an idle halls and at least much came rumor to so came world. needed rooms. one death the as an And unexpected this tragic change—world me a little before quickly spread Besides, this mortally yet, and noon, started thought wounded unity cannot, of shock event over but day to all brought a common I thought in these a slain in this JONES it crowded president and age, or en- ter the realm of our comprehension. As I sat and watched the events following the death, I still wondered if my imagination had wandered off on some strange tangent. The president’s wife, his son and daughter, and the rest of his close family must feel a greater loss than w, but the world feels the loss of this great leader. A man who has dedicated his life to world peace and the equality of man will not and cannot be forgotten. His life will live on in many sired world peace ‘tor our nation. od inhis ways and methods, but these ideals StoW through; a man lin yes on through his ideals and President Kennedy will live a long time in our hearts and in our nation. —EILEEN HEAP The great tragedy that struck our nation like lightning has left a scar on the heart of each of us. To us it seems a personal loss. In John Fitzgerald Kennedy we saw not only a great leader, but also a good friend, a friend in whom We felt drawn with his broad to his winning smile and we could put our trust. personality. He warmed understanding eyes. Here our hearts stood a man with so much to give but so little time to give it. He served us well, and let none soon forget his great deeds. Taken cruelly from us by an assassin’s cold bullet, we now stand as one united country to mourn our leader. Perhaps an even greater loss came to Mrs. Kennedy and her children. Soon, someone had replaced him as a leader. In the great country he gave his life for, we have capable men ready to assume command of our nation. . Who, however, can replace a beloved husband and understanding father? No one can do such an impossible task. The two small children must grow up without the guiding hand of a father. Too young to fully understand the meaning of death, they still sense the emptiness. We feel great sorrow, too, for the woman, who so bravely carried on and played so well the harsh hand fate had dealt her. She must now finish alone the task of raising to adulthood the two children whom she had planned they would raise together. She found herself surrounded by friends, yet alone. It becomes not only a sorrow but also a waste, when in a country such as ours, and for no sufficient reason, a man such as President Kennedy should lose his life to an assassin’s bullet. His life was snuffed out so early that there became no time to fulfill the promises for which it strived. Yes, we have lost a wise and worthy leader; Mrs. Kennedy, a loving husband; and the children, their father. Lastly, I quote a worn phrase, “He now belongs to the ages.” —CHARLENE From red, To final black. Four soldiers Marched stiffly GARNER To the flag, Raised her, Then brought her down. LARRY HUSTON