John F Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States was assassinated 60 years ago last November 22nd, 1963. I was six years old and remember the event well. I was staying at my Grandmothers home and we watched all the news on her small black and white television. It was the first time I had seen my grandmother so upset.

Walter Cronkite was the anchor on CBS at the time. He delivered the news to a nation that was stunned and saddened. See Cronkite's report on the event in the video below.

I intended to release a pattern of JFK in November but that did not happen so I wanted to get it done before the end of the year. The portrait part of this pattern is not new. I designed it a few years ago for a pattern of a Kennedy Half Dollar pattern. I simply reused it for this memorial plaque.

The pattern is 10.25" tall. The pattern calls for 1/4" thick wood for both the portrait and the backer board. You can change that up as needed.

I am about to tell a story that I can not confirm and may not be accurate. This story came from my mother. She tended to embellish stories sometimes so that is the background.

In 1960 we lived in Pendleton Indiana. This was just before Kennedy became president.

My mom told the story that she was walking down the main street of Pendleton. She had me, my sister, and my older brother with her and it was cold. All of us kids were under six years old. The future President Kennedy was traveling from Indianapolis to Anderson and his motorcade came through Pendleton. She says that his motorcade came down the street behind her. When they reached her, the car stopped and asked her if she needed help getting to where she was going. They obviously saw her struggles with us kids. 

My mom and all of us kids got in Kennedy's car and they took us to my dad's grocery store down the street. 

I was always curious if this story was true so I did a bit of research. The photo below is from October of 1960. It shows Kennedy on Main Street in Pendleton Indiana. It was an unscheduled stop. I believe a lady on the far right is my Aunt Bessie. She lived with us for a while in Pendleton. While not proof that my mother's story is true it at least makes it possible. I was three years old so of course I have no memory of the day. Just a cool family story that was fun to research.

 

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