A Tribute from Butler, Pa. ~ 58 Years Ago

upi

J.F.K.

23 November 1963

Grief came flooding in

over every hill,

down all our streets

right into the heart of town,

the day the President was shot,

insisting that he lie in state

here with us

for three days and nights,

until they came

with a caisson,

behind which

a veiled mourner

with children walked,

taking him as we watched

out across the viaduct

and on up over

our steepest hill

until we lost them

from sight.

Then silence hung long over our town

until the morning the rains ceased

when we woke to sun

breaking through dark clouds,

and looking up we saw gently rippling Vs

against the emblazoned sky

and heard flocks of wild geese

calling down to us

to rise up, to carry on.

With spirits gladdened

we set to removing flowers

and the portraits from off the streets,

candles and lamps were gathered

from curbs and fences

and then we stripped the trees

of those long black ribbons

that during those days of grief

had been fluttering in the breeze.

Source 

Butler Attorneys ~ 1947

Thanks: Jim Schaffner
Click on the photo to enlarge.

Butler Firefighters ~

A tribute to our devoted firefighters.
Our constant thanks. . .