Visiting JFK’s assassination site

By Jesus A. Garcia

DALLAS, TEXAS—-Itt has been my dream to personally have a glimpse of the place where U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated since I first arrived here, April 22, 1978. Because of the a 12-hour drive from Pharr City to Dallas, I could not make the trip since. But last Palm Sunday, after attending a church service at Umpress Methodist Church in this city (with my twin daughters Raina and Raisa and Mr. and Mrs. Giles Honeycutt, courtesy of Dagupena lass Ms. Eleanor Ignacio), my dream was finally fulfilled.

Yes, it was a nostalgic visit. While watching the footage of the brutal assassination of the late president inside the Dealy Plaza Museum, I could not help but choke particularly when I saw how his was brain blown away by the assassin’s bullets ( allegedly Lee Harvey Oswald). I was 17 year-old amateur rider during that time and had just come home from my regular training on that fateful November 23, 1963 (RP time) when I heard that stunning news from DZRI and DZTD radio stations. I told myself then that nobody was safe in this world since even the most secured and most powerful man in the planet can be killed anytime by an evil man. This was followed by the attempt on the life of U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

Unfortunately, the masterminds behind the JFK case were never known according to the Warren Commission who thoroughly investigated the case to the dismay of the American people.

Hundreds of people from all walks of life flock in at Elm St. daily where the incident happened. Different kinds of memorabilia items were on display at the Dealy Plaza Museum, close to the assassination site, that featured the baseballs that JFK pitched during openings of annual Major League Baseball, photos during his time as a navy commander of PT Boat 109, and a picture of the aircraft carrier U.S.S John F. Kennedy.

I bought JFK silver wrist band, reading glass, the reprinted Dallas Morning News dated November 23, 1963 and a DVD cassette (that recorded his visit to Fort Worth to deliver speech before traveling to Dallas, before and the actual assassination and after, and especially the killing of Oswald by club owner Jack Ruby).

There was nothing the results of the investigations. The nation is still tight-lipped after 51 years and no official report has been made public. This is similar to what happened in our country. Until now the ‘brain’ behind the killing of the late Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr. is still not known. Like Ninoy, I consider JFK a hero and love to say that the guy, JFK, who loves baseball so much, was the greatest president that U.S.A. had ever produced, so far. Siya nawa.

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I was sad to learn that the Mayor Agbayani Cycling Challenge event that was supposed to be held on Pangasinan Day on April 5 in San Fabian was called off due to time constraints. This, according to media colleague and race coordinator Dino Zabala in his text message to my son Jazy.

Instead, the organizers postponed the event to May 1 in conjunction with the celebration of Pista’y Dayat. “San Fabian is a coastal town of Pangasinan and it’s appropriate to hold the affair on this day,” Jazy said. I agree.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK:  But He said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and—Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him, as He said to you.” LUKE 16: 6-7

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