November 22, 1963…..My JFK story
It was the fall of 1963, I was in the fifth grade at Fort Worth‘s R Vickery Elementary. When I came home from school on November 21,1963; my mother informed me that she had a surprise for me in the morning.
Believe me around, 4am my mother made me to get up and start cleaning myself up and get dressed. Her surprise was 1. I was not going to school today. Her reason was; she was taking me downtown to see President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie.
When we made it downtown, there were hundreds of people in the parking lot across from the Hotel Texas waiting to see JFK & JACKIE. I was so excited, when a man came selling signs greeting the president. My mother bought me one that stated: WELCOME TO TEXAS JACK & JACKIE! It was a white poster board sign on a stick with blue glitter letters.
Finally, the presidential motorcade procession. About a dozen police on motorcycles pass, and then the presidential limousine with Governor and Nellie Connally and the Kennedys. The crowd of spectators went wild as their motorcade pass.
My mother and I left downtown early; we were trying to get to Carswell AFB, to see the President and Jackie get on Air Force One. After we left Carswell, we went to Good Luck to pick burger baskets.
When we arrived home about 15 minutes later, I quickly washed my hands to eat and turn on the old black and white TV. A special bulletin interrupted and stated something like …President Kennedy and Governor Connally had been shot in Dallas, Texas. I hollered and told my mother to come here and hear this….she broke down and cried, I did too. My mother and I had witness seeing our first U.S. President in person.
I was so happy earlier that day how he was received in my hometown of Fort Worth.
