Post by Paul McBride

Greatest Generation! In June 1963 - just five months before his assassination - President John F. Kennedy made his historic trip to Ireland. On his last night in Ireland (June 28th) Kennedy was the guest of President Eamon de Valera and his wife Sinéad. Mrs. de Valera was an accomplished Irish writer, folklorist, and poet. During the evening, she recited a poem of exile for the young president who was so impressed that he wrote it down on his place card. Over breakfast the next day, June 29th, 1963 - 63 years ago today - JFK memorized the poem and recited it in his last speech at Shannon as he departed. "'Tis the Shannon's brightly glancing stream, brightly gleaming, silent in the morning beam. Oh! the sight entrancing. Thus return from travels long, years of exile, years of pain to see Old Shannon's face again, O'er the waters glancing." At the conclusion of the poem Kennedy closed with his final remarks, "Well, I am going to come back and see Old Shannon's face again, and I am taking, as I go back to America, all of you with me." Of course, he did not return to Ireland, yet, with each passing year, the myth of JFK seems to grow larger. Kennedy was growing in stature, having faced down the Russians over Cuba, promised a man on the moon by 1970, and completing an amazing trip to Berlin where his “Ich Bin Ein Berliner” speech inspired a generation of separated Germans to come together again some 25-years later. Yet we will never know the full measure of the man. Two of his closest associates, Dave Powers and Kenneth O’Donnell, wrote a biography of Kennedy entitled "Johnny We Hardly Knew You." The title was taken from a sign someone held up when Kennedy was driving to County Wexford on his visit to his homestead. In 2013, the New Ross museum dedicated to Kennedy discovered the identity of the man holding up the sign and retrieved the sign for the museum. As sung by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, “Johnny We Hardly Knew You” is a fierce anti-war song which portrays a woman meeting her former lover after he had fought in the Great War (WWI) and was severely injured. He is now a cripple begging on the street. Here are some of the lyrics: “With your drums and guns and drums and guns, the enemy nearly slew ye, oh my darling dear, ye look so queer / strange. Johnny I hardly knew ye.” Ironically, of course, John F. Kennedy would have his own life cut short just five months later on November 22nd, 1963. He would never see 'Old Shannon’s' face again, but also he would never be forgotten by those who witnessed his visit. Requiescat in Pace! Semper Fi and God Bless us... everyone… soldier, sailor, marine, coastguardsman, airman, guardian,military families and veterans. #greatestgeneration #history #inspiration #military #veterans #va #vha #usmc #army #navy #usaf #uscg #ussf #ireland #speeches #ushistory #fatherjudge #villanovanrotc #villanova #hks #ivyleague #zeomega #angloirish #jfk #uk #specialrelationship #britishisles