I was a sixth grader ...
at St. Susanna's Roman Catholic Elementary in Harvey, Illinois. A great deal was made of the fact that JFK was the first Roman Catholic president in the country's history.
The principal, Sister Veronica, came into the room, whispered something into the ear of Miss Hanchar (the only teacher in the building that wasn't a nun) then turned to us and told us the president had been shot, but it wasn't known if he had died. The entire student population was taken to the church, and about a half hour later, the rosary was interrupted by the church pastor who had started the Catholic Prayer for the Dead. As soon as I heard the words, "Eternal rest grant unto him, oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him," I knew-we all knew-the president was gone. A lasting, indelible memory, caught in the mind of an 11-year-old.
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