JFK WE HARDLY KNEW YE FUNERAL

To Orwell Today,

November 23, 2013

Dear Jackie,

I have laboured quite intensely for a few days to learn how to use a video editing programme called AVS Video Editor. It wasn’t easy as the instructions are not very user-friendly and it took a lot of perseverance. My reason for persisting was so that I could present my slides that I took of JFK's funeral in a slide show format.

I eventually got it finished this afternoon and then had to learn how to upload it to YouTube. All is now complete and, if you are interested, you can view it at:

watch FUNERAL OF JOHN F KENNEDY SLIDESHOW listen

On August 20th, 1963 I boarded a large Pan Am plane at Shannon, Ireland headed to the USA to take up my first job working for General Electric in Utica, New York. Three months and two days later -- on Friday, November 22, 1963 -- the tragic news that JFK had been shot came across the various radios we had playing in the Radio Receiver Design Lab on Broad Street.

The next morning I was having my hair cut in a Polish barber's shop when on the TV I spotted a rerun of a news report of JFK's visit to New Ross, Ireland. I had been in New Ross on that happy sunny June day, holding up a welcoming placard that said 'Johnny I hardly knew ye'.

JohnnySignHold JohnnySignCrowd

I decided I'd just have to make it down to Washington for JFK's funeral. A quick check of Greyhound bus schedules, persuasion of some colleagues to join me, a few clothes packed and we were off on a 7 hour trip overnight, with a bus change at New York City. We stayed in a hotel right on Pennsylvania Avenue.

JFKmapFuneral

I studied the funeral routes and selected the best viewing points. On the first day I was half way down Pennsylvania Avenue. That night we queued for several hours in bitter cold to file past the coffin lying in state. The queue moved very slowly and we gave up at about midnight, mistakenly thinking that we'd never make it to the Capitol in time.

Next day I picked a spot near the North East Gate of the White House which gave me a good view of the funeral. After it had moved on towards the cathedral I quickly made my way down to the Lincoln Memorial. From elevated ground here I could watch the funeral coming down Henry Bacon Drive as it turned right towards the Potomac Bridge. There was no point in trying to get as far as Arlington with the crowds.

I have treasured my collection of slides from that sad time. On this, the fiftieth anniversary of the death of this great 'New Ross' man, I am very happy to be able to share them with you on YouTube. I have added a soundtrack of my daughter, Caitriona, singing an Irish lament from the Aran Islands.

I trust that you are keeping well, on this anniversary of a very sad occasion.

Kind regards,
Peter O'Leary

Greetings Peter,

Thanks so much for sharing your story of where you were when you heard JFK had been shot -- and for the amazing photos you've compiled into a beautiful video production -- with soundtrack.

I inserted a map of the route of JFK's funeral to enhance the experience for readers as you describe the locations of your photos.

I very much appreciate your valued contributions, over the years, in helping carry the torch -- and the sign -- for JFK. See JFK IRELAND KNEW YE DVDs & JFK WE HARDLY KNEW YE MEMENTO & WHERE'S JFK WE HARDLY KNEW YE? & JFK WE HARDLY KNEW YE SIGN

All the best,
Jackie Jura

watch Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye, The Irish Rovers, YouTube

watch When Johnny Comes Marching Home, YouTube

JFKfunralIrishGuard The story behind the Irish troops at JFK's funeral, Here & Now, Nov 25, 2013
Just a few months before President John F Kennedy was assassinated, he visited Ireland... In Dublin a group of Irish Army cadets performed a special, silent drill in remembrance of the dead in the Easter Uprising of 1916. After the drill was completed, President Kennedy told the commanding officer it was the finest honor guard he had ever seen. When he returned to the White House, he requested a film of that drill. In the hours after President Kennedy was assassinated, his widow Jacqueline made a special request of the USA State Department. She wanted those Irish cadets to perform that same drill at his funeral...

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Jackie Jura
~ an independent researcher monitoring local, national and international events ~

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