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Life IS history in the making. Every word we say, everything we do becomes history the moment it is said or done. Life void of memories leaves nothing but emptiness. For those who might consider history boring, think again: It is who we are, what we do and why we are here. We are certainly individuals in our thoughts and deeds but we all germinated from seeds planted long, long ago.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Three Shots Fired

This Day in History: November 22, 1963

 "The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it.
And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender,
or submission." ~John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)
35th President of the United States
en.wikipedia.org
Embrace the Past. . .
November 22, 2012 brings with it the joys of Thanksgiving and also its share of sadness. As we embrace the past, one of the most shocking events in our nation's history occurred on November 22, 1963.

Even though cooler temperatures had been predicted, clear skies and a warm sunny day engulfed Dallas, TX on that memorable day. President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy exhibited their usual charm in preparation for the President to speak at a luncheon with civic and business leaders at the Trade Mart. 

But, that speech was never to be given. . .


"His assassination on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, sent shockwaves around the world and turned the all-too-human Kennedy into a larger-than-life heroic figure. To this day, historians continue to rank him among the best-loved presidents in American history."
Three Shots Fired
Assassination was not new to America
but definitely unforeseen and astonishing.
What was intended to be a push for reelection
ended in a cataclysm that led the American nation
in a totally new direction.

File:Tiny Star.gifFile:Tiny Star.gifFile:Tiny Star.gif 
A mass of zealous people
Overran the streets, standing blade to blade
Waiting for even a glimpse
Of the thirty-fifth President’s motorcade
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Then, shots rang out in Dealey Plaza!
From whence did they come?
The Texas Book Depository?
“Grassy knoll” said some
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This tragic event of ’63
Took the life of a young president
Leaving an undying memory
An iconic figure unduly spent
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Was it a conspiracy
Or the lone gunman accused?
What major discrepancies
Left people beguiled? bemused?
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Those of us who lived that era
Still remember the dire words that aired
From CBS News’ Walter Cronkite
“In Dallas, Texas, three shots were fired…”
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Engulfed in numbing disbelief
Eyes filled with tears, limbs became numb
A nation’s people cried in shock
“What has been done? What has been done?”
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What happened next became history
John F. Kennedy was dead
Now it’s been well nearly fifty years
With much truth still left unsaid
“Change is the law of life.
And those who look only to the past or the present
are certain to miss the future.”
—John F. Kennedy

©2012 Awakenings
Sharla Lee Shults
Remember the words of President John F. Kennedy:

 Empower the Present. . .

“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
John F. Kennedy

Enrich the Future. . .

"Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future."
 John F. Kennedy



3 comments:

  1. Hi Sharla,
    Thank you for this very inspiring and motivating post. JFK words of hope and motivation still have power in them. I especially love, "Change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past orto the present are certain to miss the future." How very true are these words. Yest so many people try to avoid change.
    Nice poem and a very nice article.
    Ciao,
    Patricia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Pat. So good to "see" you visiting Awakenings! Thank you for your wonderful comments!

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  2. Thank you for stopping by, Len. I am so appreciative of your words and the inspiration you gathered!

    ReplyDelete