Where were you?

For many yesterday the question was where were you 47 years ago when the president was shot. For me it was easy to answer. I was stationed aboard the USS Wakiakum County LST 1162 and at the time we were docked at out home port in Little Creek Virginia. I was with a group of shipmates playing football at the base athletic field when the shore patrol came by and ordered everyone back to their ship. The base immediately, we went to lockdown and the ships prepared to get under way because at the time no one was quite sure the ramifications of what had just happened. We remained at condition red the rest of the day and into Saturday before we were allowed to resume normal activities.

Most everyone on the ship was glued to the TV trying to comprehend the events unfolding. It was Sunday afternoon and a group of 5 of us who were off duty on Monday decided we would head for the Capitol and participate as best we could in honoring our fallen President.

When we got off duty at midnight we jumped in the car and headed north. We arrived in the area of the Capitol about 4:00 am and as we approached we found that the line was about 8 hours long and viewing was going to end at 8:00 am. This is where our luck changed. We met another group of military men coming from the Capitol who told us there was a special door for VIPs and the military was included. We headed to the door and were ushered through the back passageways of the Capitol exiting right in the rotunda. After rendering honors we left the Capitol and headed for Lafayette park and joined the crowd right across from the White House. There we were able to watch the procession with the horse drawn caisson carrying the Presidents body, the Kennedy family and most of the heads of state from around the world begin their journey to Arlington. It was a day I'll never forget.

Todays event will be the long awaited arrival of Sal and Shelly which will give us more folks to enjoy the good life.