Lavender Orchids has published a review on Instagram. Here is the start of it:
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A copy of the newspaper we received at our home about President Kennedy’s assassination
President Kennedy’s assassination was the biggest news of my childhood and happened when I was in third grade. It’s the one event that touched the lives of every child. In my case, we got let out of school early, but didn’t know why. I remember waiting outside for the school bus, wondering what in the world was going on.
On the bus, we got the scoop from the oldest boys on the bus, the older twin brothers of my friend Vivian. They had a transistor radio and were listening to the news. I could see from their excited faces that they loved being the ones to share the awful news with our tender little minds and hearts. After all, they were in SIXTH grade.
At one point in Scrap: Salvaging a Family, I tell the story of what happened when I got home that day, as well as what happened to me on the day of President Kennedy’s funeral.
Tour Schedule:
March 21: Joy Neal Kidney (review)
March 23: Liz Gauffreau, (review)
March 24: Marie Ann Bailey, (review)
March 25: John W. Howell, (excerpt)
March 30: Miriam Hurdle, (companion story)
March 31: Review Tales (review)
April 2: the bookworm (review)
April 9: Ashley’s Books, Cozy Home Delight (review)
April 13: What’s That Book About (guest post)
April 15: Tabi Thoughts(review)
April 23: Lavender Orchids (review)–on Instagram
April ?: The Reading Bud (review)
May 4: Chelsea’s Books (review)
May 4: Smorgasbord (excerpt)
May 6: Brotman Blog (review)
May 7: The Reading Bud (interview)
May 14: True Book Addict (guest post)
May 19: True Book Addict (review)
May 21: The Book Connection (review)
Follow the tour with the hashtag #ScrapSalvagingFamily
I remember the day JFK was assassinated very clearly. I was in second grade, and we, too, were sent home early, but the principal told us why.
How did it happen? Did he or she call you into an assembly or go classroom to classroom? We had an announcement over the loudspeaker that we were getting out early and then we were all sent out to wait for our buses.
The principal and someone else (I don’t remember who), came to our classroom, announced that the president had been shot, and sent us all home. My house was within walking distance of the school, so I walked home.
I am trying to imagine walking home alone after hearing that. I am guessing alone, but maybe you were with neighbors or siblings. I did walk home sometimes, too, as we were just outside the walking distance and were lucky to have a bus.
I walked home with a group of other kids, not by myself.
Yeah, we usually traveled in packs, didn’t we hah? I remember though a couple of times I had to walk by myself, and my school was on a busy road, and I had to walk past the hospital.
At that time, we lived in Edgartown, Mass. Once the summer people had cleared out, there wasn’t much happening, including on the streets.
That sounds so good about now!
Yes, it does!
I was in second grade, and we lived in Dallas then. The 6th graders had gone to see JFK that day. I didn’t know any of them. I wonder now what it was like for them.
Whoa. Living in Dallas. I can’t even about the sixth graders. That is truly awful. Didn’t it seem like sixth graders were outside our frame of reference? I only knew these guys because they lived in my neighborhood and I used to go to Vivian’s house to play. I thought they were something like teenagers. So how come I thought you and Liz were my exact age and you were both in second grade and I was in third? Now I’m feeling older than I was before.
I thought we were all about the same age, too. I started school early. Yes, sixth graders were unknown beings to me. I guess my older sister was in junior high, and I don’t think I ever asked her what she remembered or how she heard the news. Now I have to ask my brother.
I was in college and classes were cancelled. The only TV was in the basement of the dorm so we listened to a radio. It seems like I still had to report for work at the college library.
That is awful that you had to go to work while everybody was glued to the TV and radio!!! If you remember, did you find out with a phone call about classes being cancelled or did you go to class and find a note on the door?
I remember it happening, but I don’t recall going home early. I remember watching news on a portable TV at school — not sure where! — or were we listening to a transistor radio? — But eventually, we did get home, where the assassination was on the news — I think all the rest of the day and for long after — with the swearing in of President Johnson — the capture of Lee Harvey Oswald — Jack Ruby shooting him — the presidential funeral, course — and somewhere in there, Thanks giving —
Oh, yes, it was such a hubbub for quite some time!!! For the longest time I had the most mixed up memory, thinking Jack Ruby was executed. I was sitting in my grandmother’s kitchen with her, listening to the radio. So who was it that was executed?
Ruby was supposed to be executed. He appealed his sentence and died before the matter could be addressed. So the only person executed was Kennedy — by Oswald.
Gee, I wonder if I heard them talking about executing him on the radio and took that to mean they were doing it right then.
An awful day for sure. I was in college and felt the loss deeply.
You were at an age to have it affect you on a more mature level, rather than the gaping mouth big ears stance of an 8 year old. I can well imagine you felt terrible.
Lovely review!!
Thank you–yes, it is!
A most engaging review
Thank you, Derrick. I hope all is well with you!
Yep
Good!
I was in 6th grade, and it changed my life. I will never, ever forget sitting in class, watching a movie about the sun, when our teacher got the call and looked shocked and told us, “The president has been shot.” School was dismissed, and when I walked to the circle where our buses gathered, another teacher walked through a plate glass door, shattering shards of glass everywhere. I spent that weekend glued to the television, including seeing Jack Ruby shoot Oswald. What a horrifying thing for a child to experience.
What brought light back into my life was the arrival of the Beatles in America in February 1964. I will be forever grateful to them and for their music for bringing back joy and love.
Ugh, why did your teacher word it so plainly? That’s awful. What a trauma to live through. That story about the teacher walking into a door is INCREDIBLE. Yes, the Beatles!!! That was the first time I felt like a big girl, being pulled into th excitement along with the big kids. My parents made an effort to drive me to a store. Dad ran inside and came out with Meet the Beatles, and I was so happy!
Now my father would NEVER have bought me a Beatles album. He hated any rock music. I saved from my allowance and babysitting to buy all my Beatles albums.
Oh, and that teacher had no filter about anything. Mrs Morrissey…she was a character.
Hah, well, you must have a lot of stories about her!
Aw. He sounds rigid in that respect! My father liked female jazz singers when I was really little but as I got older he liked BJ Thomas and then he loved dancing to Proud Mary :).
I recall our teacher sending us home in the middle of the day. I recall watching television news coverage as a family. I recall John John saluting his father’s casket…
Yes, Annette! I did see that later on TV. I wrote in the book about not getting to see the funeral, but of course it was all over the TV for a long time after that so I ended up seeing bits and pieces and did see John John. The kids were the most interesting part of the whole thing to me, being a kid myself.
I remember this day so vividly although I was very little. I turned 5 years old on the 21st day of November, 1963. We were at a furniture store looking for my ‘big girl’ furniture set for my birthday. They dimmed the lights of the store and they were going to close for the day when we heard this tragic news about the president. Everyone was in a state of shock. My father led us all out of the store, and I remember how quiet it was in the car driving home. I remember looking out the car window and feeling so very sad.
Oh wow, that loss of the big girl furniture must have made it extra sad. What a shock for such a little girl. You must have been a sensitive child.
I was in the first grade and, believe it or not, I have no memory of that time. I am confident, however, that no adult sat me down and explained anything.
Yeah, you were probably just a bit young for all that. Good thing you didn’t get that particular trauma in your life heh.
I was also in the third grade. I don’t remember being sent home early, but I remember we were all in awe because THE TEACHER CRIED. We were off school on the day of the funeral, and I remember how solemn Caroline and John looked. I was old enough to realize they had lost their father.
That would have blown my mind to see the teacher cry!!!! I did not know we are the same age!