Remembering JFK

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Editor’s note: We asked readers of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times to submit their memories of where they were and what they were doing when they learned that President Kennedy had been assassinated in Dallas. We’re honored to be able to share their responses.

Our history class was interrupted by our principal’s solemn voice coming over the public address system: “The president has been shot. No details are known at this time.” Everyone was stunned and felt an immediate concern for our president’s safety. Even though we were only 13 years old, we felt a connection to our president. President Kennedy had a way of making you feel that he was part of your family. Of course, we had no cell phones or computers in those days and we had no way of keeping up with the latest information on the shooting unless the office notified us. No further announcements were made that afternoon. After school, mom picked us up. I was going to ask her about the president when I noticed the tears streaming down her face. “The president is dead,” she said softly. My brothers and I began to cry. In the years since, I have never known a president to be so loved by so many people, both young and old. Nancy Karpyk, Weirton

Chernenko helped Kennedy win votes By WARREN SCOTT Staff writer WELLSBURG — It may be hard for some to envision that one of the most popular U.S. presidents had a hard fight to win the presidential nomination, particularly in southern states. As chairman of the Brooke County Democratic Party, John Chernenko was among political activists who helped the young John F. Kennedy to win that battle. Kennedy’s detractors pointed to his relative youth (he was 43 when he declared his candidacy), inexperience in international affairs at a time when many Americans believed war with the Soviet Union was imminent and his religious denomination, as he would become the first (and thus far only) Catholic to be elected president. Chernenko said he believes Kennedy’s religious affiliation was the motive for the anonymous death threats he received for supporting the future president. But such animosity came from outside the ethnically diverse Northern Panhandle, and Kennedy quickly won over the residents of this region with See CHERNENKO Page 6D

Warren Scott

REMEMBERING KENNEDY VISIT — John Chernenko of Wellsburg, former chairman of the Brooke County Democratic Par ty, looks over photos taken of the Kennedys during a 1959 visit to the county, where the future president spoke to a packed house at the Wellsburg Elks Country Club and the future first lady met with area women at a tea party hosted by Chernenko’s wife at their home. Among the photos is one on which Kennedy wrote, “To John with thanks and warmest regards.”

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I was watching the news while ironing clothes for my family in Phoenix. Not wanting to believe but knowing it to be true because Walter Cronkite was reporting it, my spirit hurt, my enthusiasm for public service died. I called my husband at his work and said, with great sadness, “They killed John.” Just over four years earlier, my uncle, Jim Cullen, had taken me to the Weiron Community Center to meet, then Sen. John Kennedy as he began his run for president of the United States. We shook hands, exchanged comments. I volunteered to help his campaign. He called his brother, Ted, down from the stage, and Ted took my name and address. Shortly after a letter addressed to me, Miss Linda Ghenne, and signed “Jack Kennedy,” dated April 28, 1960, arrived thanking me for volunteering. Enclosed was an 8-by10-inch glossy photo of “John” and a single sheet of instructions to be used when calling voters. I worked diligently. I believed we could make this country better because he told me we could. We all have faults and he had his, but none of his faults diminished his ability to inspire. His words called to the best in us and still do. And, I still recall his assassination with tears in my eyes. Linda McNeil, New Cumberland


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