05-06-2012, 09:33 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-06-2012, 11:06 PM by Greg Burnham.)
I visited the El Cortez Hotel in downtown San Diego last evening near dusk. On June 4th, 1968 (44 years ago) I went to see
Senator Robert F. Kennedy speak there with my mother and one of my sisters. I was 11 years old at the time. As his open
convertible was pulling out of the hotel's parking garage several of his personal body guards (the Secret Service were not
as yet assigned to protect presidential candidates until AFTER he was assassinated) noticed that he was standing to wave at
the crowd. They grabbed him and forced him back into his seat. When he landed, I lunged across the barrier ropes and grabbed
him by the lapel and tie. He looked right at me and smiled broadly. Then someone lightly tapped my hand several times until I
let go. But, I will never forget his smile--his warmth. He seemed to draw energy from human contact. I definitely drew energy
from it.
The next night (44 years ago today) I watched his life force leak inexorably from his head wound. As we watched through the
night, keeping a vigil, I know that I wasn't alone in feeling that perhaps he would pull through if we just kept hope. And then, he
was gone.
Memories...
Senator Robert F. Kennedy speak there with my mother and one of my sisters. I was 11 years old at the time. As his open
convertible was pulling out of the hotel's parking garage several of his personal body guards (the Secret Service were not
as yet assigned to protect presidential candidates until AFTER he was assassinated) noticed that he was standing to wave at
the crowd. They grabbed him and forced him back into his seat. When he landed, I lunged across the barrier ropes and grabbed
him by the lapel and tie. He looked right at me and smiled broadly. Then someone lightly tapped my hand several times until I
let go. But, I will never forget his smile--his warmth. He seemed to draw energy from human contact. I definitely drew energy
from it.
The next night (44 years ago today) I watched his life force leak inexorably from his head wound. As we watched through the
night, keeping a vigil, I know that I wasn't alone in feeling that perhaps he would pull through if we just kept hope. And then, he
was gone.
Memories...
GO_SECURE
monk
"It is difficult to abolish prejudice in those bereft of ideas. The more hatred is superficial, the more it runs deep."
James Hepburn -- Farewell America (1968)
monk
"It is difficult to abolish prejudice in those bereft of ideas. The more hatred is superficial, the more it runs deep."
James Hepburn -- Farewell America (1968)