[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 15 (Monday, January 27, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E118-E119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ``THE PASSING OF A PRESIDENT:'' IN HONOR OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 27, 2014

  Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, on November 22, 2013, my hometown of 
Springfield, Massachusetts held a ceremony to remember President John 
Fitzgerald Kennedy on the 50th anniversary of his death. What sets this 
ceremony apart from the many others that took place on this significant 
anniversary is that in 1964, Springfield established a monument with an 
eternal flame in our beautiful Forest Park in President Kennedy's 
memory. The citizens of Springfield hold President Kennedy's memory 
dear and gather to remember him each November 22nd since. I am proud to 
have participated in at least forty of these ceremonies over the years.
  Following this year's event, I received a very touching letter from a 
long-time friend and Springfield native, Mary Ellen Long Franz. In the 
letter, she included a poem, which she had written in November of 1963. 
I found her poem to be very moving and believe it captures the emotions 
that millions across the country felt on that day. I want to thank Mary 
Ellen for this tribute to our fallen President and I submit this poem.

                       The Passing of a President

               (By: Mary Ellen Long Franz, November 1963)

     Began the somber, solemn days of horror growing.
     Hollow tumult gnawing, aching, pelting . . .
     Dear God, this cannot be.
     But so it was and sorrow swelled and soared and burst its 
           bonds to rush cascading . . .
     The million tears of all the millions flowing.
     Endless sadness softly going.
     O see, brave lady, love surrounding and enfolding, holding 
           heartful.

[[Page E119]]

     To give at last where always we have taken . . .
     And still are taking even now your grieving.
     Our loved one so much more is loved when gone, so unwarned 
           gone.
     Forgive us this, our trespassing, and nearness to him 
           wanting.
     Too undreamed were we of such nightmarish thing.
     Unwilling now to part, to break apart, to lose so soon, too 
           sadly soon . . .
     In memory enough to keep his faith, his love that gave with 
           heart's whole love . . .
     His mind that gleaned from all the good, from all the harvest 
           of our history . . .
     Enough to hold his soul's warm dedication,
     His love of peace and laughter sunning,
     His giving, selfless giving of all that one can give?
     Please, God, it can be so.

                          ____________________