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Dealey Plaza UK Commemorates the 52nd Anniversary of the death of JFK


Barry Keane

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Dealey Plaza UK Commemorates the 52nd Anniversary of the death of JFK.

DEALEY PLAZA UK

52nd ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE ADDRESS

ON THE DEATH OF JOHN F. KENNEDY

Given in London by Barry Keane on NOVEMBER 22nd 2015

I want to begin by thanking you all for being here today and taking part in Dealey Plaza UK’s Commemoration of the 52nd Anniversary of the death of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

I am very proud to be a member of Dealey Plaza UK. For the better part of 20 years this group has been at the forefront of responsible research into President Kennedy’s assassination. This organisation believes in the free exchange of information surrounding the death of JFK. We have some of the most respected and prolific researchers amongst our members. The group’s journal, The Dealey Plaza Echo, is a highly respected publication dedicated to the search for truth surrounding this appalling crime.

Two years ago we published our first book on the subject, a group effort called “JFK Echoes from Elm Street“. Which is subtitled “A Search for Historical Accuracy on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy”. This book is a fitting tribute to the memory of JFK. But it is more than just a gesture of homage to a greatly admired leader. It has contributed much in the search for historical truth and I want to thank all of my fellow collaborators on the book for their superb contributions, in the quest for that truth.

On this occasion it is not my wish to dwell on who was responsible for JFK’s death. We in this group and other researchers will of course continue that debate. I would prefer at this time to concentrate on the fact that John F. Kennedy lived: and to explore the positive impact his life had on the world.

Over the past 52 years, many tributes have been paid to John F. Kennedy. Some of the most poignant were expressed when the memory of this remarkable leader was still fresh; when the shock of his sudden death was perhaps at its most painful.

One early tribute or perhaps it would be more accurate to describe it as a lament, was made on the day of Kennedy’s burial. Journalist Mary McGrory and artist William Walton, both friends of JFK, were attending his funeral at Arlington cemetery on November 25th 1963.

They were standing near the gravesite along with the Kennedy family and dignitaries from all over the world when McGrory turned to Walton and asked him rhetorically: “Bill……… what are we doing at Jack Kennedy’s funeral?

This anguished remark encapsulated the terrible sense of loss that many people felt at this unbelievably tragic event.

Since President Kennedy’s death many monuments to him have been erected. This bust, sculptured by Jacques Lipchitz and unveiled by Robert and Edward Kennedy on the 15th of May 1965, is London’s permanent memorial to him. The names of streets and squares etc all over the world were changed to his, to honour his memory. Special coins and medals were struck with his image. Even a mountain, in Alaska, now bears his name.

On this anniversary of President Kennedy’s death I want to propose answers to some important questions:

Why is President Kennedy still mourned today?

Why several generations later, people still regard the Kennedy years with such nostalgia?

Why is his leadership still relevant 52 years after his death?

For after all he was president for little more than a thousand days, and his legislative record is regarded by many as unimpressive.

Was Kennedy more style than substance?

Did he possess more charm than ability; more profile than courage?

No; I believe he was far more than just a charismatic man. JFK brought to politics something which is shamefully lacking at the present time: respectability and integrity!

Above all, he possessed that rare ability to inspire.

Referring to those who would become part of his administration, he stated in his inaugural address on January 20th 1961.

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavour will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world”.

I remember vividly, at the age of ten, being struck by the eloquence of that speech. I remember too, the feeling of optimism during those few short years he was president. Of course this may have been partly due to my own idealistic youth and to my future hopes and aspirations. But it really was good to be part of the young generation in the early sixties. We felt that war belonged to our parent’s generation. We enjoyed freedom. We had youthful energy……. But most importantly we had John Kennedy as the leader of the Free West: and when he went on to say “….. my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man” he did indeed inspire us, to change the world!

Now, when I think back to that time, a line from Chariots of Fire comes to mind, when we certainly did have….…“ hope in our hearts and wings, on our heels”.

I think many would agree that there have been few inspirational leaders since John Kennedy’s death. JFK set a high standard that has proved to be very difficult to emulate.

Why is this? What was so special about this man, why was he different from other leaders? Was it because he died a martyr’s death when he was still young and had so much more to offer? This may be partly true for his youth undoubtedly contributed to his appeal. Compared to other world leaders like Eisenhower, MacMillan, and Khrushchev he appeared even younger. While he did indeed possess an appealing persona and had a graceful wife and small children, his appeal transcended mere superficiality.

The primary reason I believe, for his high regard, is that President Kennedy was a man of his time. By that I mean a leader who achieved power and responsibility at a crucial period in human history; when the stakes were high, when true leadership was desperately needed.

Because this period was the height of the Cold War, and the fear that we could all die as a result of a nuclear attack was terrifyingly real. The stand-offs at the Berlin wall and the Cuban Missile Crisis stand testament to that.

It may be true that the young have the disadvantage of inexperience, but when the world demanded statesmanship, President Kennedy proved that he was more than equal to the task.

We were so fortunate, and I cannot emphasise this point too strongly, to have JFK as leader of the free world. A man who possessed the humanity and the courage to resist the forces of evil that were pressurising him into mankind’s ultimate failure!

Kennedy achieved, in my opinion, true greatness during his presidency. He matured from a political leader into an international statesman during his administration. So that by 1963 he had reached the pinnacle of his political life.

The peaceful conclusion of the missile crisis; the full support of his administration behind the struggle for civil rights; his speech at the American University in June 1963 followed a few months later by the signing of the nuclear Test Ban Treaty; all contributed to ensuring John Kennedy’s rightful place in history.

But what we could not foresee was that towards the end of November 1963, his historical legacy would also be secured, by tragedy!

Kennedy was a victim of those forces who rejected peace and justice for all and as a consequence of the manner of his death we are all victims.

But, we do not have to remain so! Because demanding the truth about the unsavoury acts that have been perpetrated and continue to be, by these hidden forces, is our right and our duty! We have the power to achieve it: we need only the will!

I said at the start that I did not want to dwell on who was responsible for JFK’s death, but I will say this:

Another phrase that Kennedy used in his Inaugural address was, “….with history the final judge of our deeds…”

Today, on this 52nd anniversary of his murder, it is my fervent hope, that when the perpetrators of JFK’s assassination are finally, judged by history, magnanimity will not play a role in its verdict!

Shortly after JFK’s sudden death Mary McGrory spoke this time to Daniel Patrick Moynihan, an official in Kennedy’s administration.

She said to him, “We’ll never laugh again“, his reply was “Oh, we’ll laugh again, But we’ll never be young again“.

Part of the enduring legacy of John F. Kennedy is for a brief shining moment, we were young; and we did have “hope in our hearts”

John Kennedy effectively sacrificed the remainder of his life for the benefit of all mankind and the generations that followed his: So, if I were to be asked, was Kennedy a great leader?

I can reply with genuine justification. ”Oh yes, he truly was!”

Because of what JFK achieved for mankind, I think it is appropriate to quote the words that were traditionally spoken to end his press conferences:

Thank you, Mr. President”.

In conclusion, I would urge that the search for historical accuracy concerning President John F. Kennedy’s death continues until the full truth is revealed!

Because we must never forget that truth is non-negotiable and truth therefore must always prevail.

LONG LIVE THE MEMORY OF

JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY

MAY HE REST IN PEACE

Edited by Barry Keane
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