Fifty years ago today I was a junior at West Rome High School. Best I can remember we were in the hallway between classes when the school intercom system came on. I was on my way into Mrs. Howell's (a Facebook friend now) English class I think. I remember being very frightened that the assassination was part of some kind of coup or international attack. There was speculation about the safety of Vice President, now President, Johnson.
It seemed we spent days in front of the TV. On Sunday, after church, we drove to Hardee's on Second Ave. (Shrimpboat today) for hamburgers to take home and eat in front of the TV. We were about down to the Washington Apartments when the radio blasted the news of Ozwald's murder. Another horrifying twist. All the reports, recordings, film-clips, and memories related today have brought back the unbelievable uncertainty, sadness, and confusion of those days.
The relatively new universality of TV made this a uniquely shared experience for the grieving nation. America grieved in unison, from the early reports, to the new president's solemn oath, to the late night return to Andrews, to the Oswald murder, to the funeral and John John's salute, to the carriage to Arlington.
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