Letters to Jackie (26 page)

MCKEESPORT, PA.
1-2-64

Dear Mrs. Kennedy,

You have my deepest sympathy on the loss of your husband and also your baby.

I wanted to write you sooner but I couldent get myself composed. The reason for my writing you is that my husband took a heart attack and died instantly a few mi. after your husband was lowered in his grave. My husband was also 46 and served in the Navy during the second world war. Honorably discharged.

My children (I have 2 a boy & a girl) & I are having a difficult time convincing ourselves that he is gone.

My husband felt so bad when President Kennedy was shot. He was terribly upset, and while we were watching the funeral on television he took this heart attack & died.

I don’t know why Im even telling you all this, you probably will never read my letter, but anyway when I lost my husband right after you lost yours I felt close to you and I wanted to extend my deepest sympathy to you. I understand and know the loss you are feeling, because I am going through the same thing.

May God Bless you & your children.

Please pray for us we need the courage to go on. I will pray for you and your children.

sincerely,
Mrs. Margaret Mesaros

PITTSBURGH, PA.

NOV 27, 1963

My Dear Mrs Kennedy.

I would like to express my deepest sympath to you and your children. This was a great shock to all of us.

Just like you I lost my husband 7 years ago. He was killed in a steel mill. I was left with 4 children. My husband at the time was 27 years old. My twins were 10 months old at the time. So believe me, I know what you are going throught. My heart go out to you and your children.

The day that Mr Kennedy was Assassination my children came home from school crying, and its been six days now and we still are crying. He was a wonderful man, and a good father to you children, he also was the best President we have ever had. We will never forget him. We will remember you and your family in our pray’s.

My God Bless you and your children.

Mrs Joseph Bradley Jr.

HOUSTON, TEXAS
DEC. 2, 1963

Dear Mrs Kennedy,

I am a widow of 29 and have four children, ages 11 to 5. I want to tell you how much admiration I felt for your husband. He was the first president we have had that I felt had a touch of greatness. I am so glad that I was able thru T.V. to see the services for him. I have Cancer and was too ill to go see you when you were here, but my children saw you. My boys were much impressed by your husband, but my daughter just wanted to see “Jackie.” Kelly and Caroline are the same age and we read all we can about your daughter. I hope things go well with you and your children. Your loss is great but our loss is so much greater. I was very proud of our first lady and feel that the president would have been also.

Please remember me in your prayers as I have not much longer. I pray for you and yours nightly. I wish I could think of something to say to tell you of my grief for our President and the pride I feel in you but cannot.

God Keep You,
Jo Hebb

DECEMBER 20, 1963

Dear Mrs. Kennedy,

My deepest sympathy on the tragic loss of your husband. If I could take away the sorrow and pain, I would, but I can only share it.

On April 25, 1963 I received a letter from your husband expressing his sympathy on the loss of my husband, an officer aboard the U.S.S. Thresher, which sank April 10, 1963.

May I quote a few lines from that letter, as I am sure you will find consolation from his words. “It is a sad fact of history that this price of freedom must be paid again and again, by our best young men in each generation. Your husband has joined the other defenders of this Nation who have given their lives for their country.”—My dear Mrs. Kennedy, this truly is your husband.

I pray for you Mrs. Kennedy, and our husbands, and Mrs. Kennedy, when you are very much alone with only your thoughts, please, please think of us, the wives the Thresher left behind. Our hands reach out for yours in those moments of darkness.

Death is incomprehensible, a mystery, and a Divine one at that, not to be understood, only to be accepted.

Most sincerely,
Mrs. John J. Wiley

EDITOR’S NOTE:
A nuclear powered submarine, the USS
Thresher
was lost at sea off the coast of Cape Cod on April 10, 1963. The entire crew of 129 died in the accident.

DEC. 1963
WASH., PA.

Dear Mrs Kennedy and family

I just wanted to write you a few lines about your Dear Husband. I lost my Husband 15 year ago and I know how it feel for you and all your family[.] I no it is Hard to Bear but when we half to go. I think you have two Darling Children. I feel sory [for] them[.] when my Husband Died we lived on a Farm so I had Leave it and I work out By days it was allfull Hard[.] I soon be 72 years old and I am Still workeing out. I am on the Relief[.] I only get $59 a month the way thing is you can[’t] do any better[.] if are [our] Presend John F Kendy had of lived thing would been better[.] I talk to alot of people and they said John F Kenndy was going to be the Best of United State[.] I know he had to have time he would straiten things and we all could Live Happy[.] When I heard of the President die I could Not believe it[.] I watch the televison but made me Sick to think some one had Kill him[.] every body said he was a good Presdent he was going to be the Best Presdent of the United State[.] if any of his Brother Would Run for President I would vote for them[. I am a Democrat and I am Proud of[.] I think I will feel Better By Write to You and Your darling children hope you will get along and May God Bless you and all you Family and allso the President family[.] I hope you dont mind for me a writeing to you I might feel Better this a Friend of all of you

Blanche Wise

RUSSELLVILLE, ARK.

DEC. 25 1963

My dear Mrs. Kennedy:-

My heart goes out to you and your little family this Christmas morning. I remember back to the year 1948 when my five children, two little girls and three older boys had our first Christmas without our beloved one. It was a sad day indeed. We were thankful tho for a good father and for the pleasant memories we had of other Christmas mornings. We had celebrated our twenty-fifth anniversary. I am sure that this morning you too have had those same thoughts and you are also thankful. My faith in eternal life was made stronger by his passing. Yours too has been made stronger. How our hearts bled for you + your wonderful family.

Be of good cheer. Jesus said, “I am come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” I believe and so do you.

My children are now grown. They have children—oh! how I love ’em. The parents are college graduates. My oldest son is with Chrysler in New Orleans. He is active in his church. He sings in the choir. My second son is an architect in Dallas. He and his family are members of Highland Park Methodist. He sings in the choir. My youngest son is a Methodist minister in Ft. Smith, Ark. The girls are married and they too are active members of our church. My youngest daughter teaches science in the Junior High school Chillicothe, Mo.

Why am I writing you about my precious family? I’ll tell you why. Some day I’ll read in our Arkansas Gazette that little Caroline has grown up and she will contribute service of some kind to this great country of Ours. I’ll also read about little John—God Bless him. May he grow up to be the 2nd Kennedy president (maybe the 3rd) of the United States of America. By that time may all hate, strife, prejudice and dis-courteous conduct have passed away from America’s way of life. May the Prince of Peace truly live in the hearts of all people.

Sincerely
Jerrine Hilliard

JANUARY 13, 1964
SOUTH RIVER, N.J.

Dear Mrs. Kennedy,

Forgive me for writing to you—for I know that the constant opening of a wound does not help to heal it. But I feel that I owe you a deep sense of gratitude. For indeed—through your great tragedy, I have found salvation and comfort. For, you see, I too have experienced the same loss that has befallen you and in the same fashion—just seven months earlier.

On April 9th my husband kissed me goodbye and went down to his law offices and 35 minutes later he was shot and killed by a disgruntled client, for no plausible reason.

I know the world over, feels your great loss but only those who have actually experienced what you have, could possibly know what you feel deep inside.

Easter Week was my week of terror, my husband was buried on Easter Monday.

I have since, gone through, including Easter, my birthday—my childrens birthday, our 22nd wedding anniversary, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and today my husband’s 47th birthday. Each holiday was more difficult than the preceeding one, but, I’m told, you must pass through at least two sets of holiday’s—to adjust yourself.

When my husband was shot, I’m afraid I was not as brave and courageous as you. My doctor feared a nervous breakdown and I lost 48 lbs. For I could not comprehend why this should happen to my dear one—who was always smiling and had such a bubbling personality. He was loved by everyone, his funeral was the largest that our little town of South River had ever known. And surely, a man so loved and respected and admired by so many couldn’t have an enemy—but even our Dear Lord Jesus had his Judas.

My husband was shot at 9:20 a.m. and fought for his life until 6:30
p.m. He never regained consciousness. I have two daughters and a grandson who was born exactly 2 months after, on the same day and the exact hour of my husband’s passing. Surely, this must be God’s way of replacing a life for a life.

I know that the entire world was affected by our beloved President’s passing but I want you to know that my children and I actually relived all those horrible day’s with you. They were so exact and similar to our own. Up until that tragic day, I was living in a very grim world by myself—shutting out my children, my new grandson and my friends. I wanted no part of the human race. And then my 16 year old daughter came home from school and said “Mother, do you know when I heard about our President, I felt the same way as when I was told about Daddy. A shock went right through me from head to toe.”

And then day after day I just sat before the television and watched the entire proceedings, and slowly, very slowly, as I saw your grim face and the courage you portrayed, I felt a new strength come into my body.

Even though you showed no tears I knew better than anyone that in the privacy of your own room, you cried. For me, 9 months have gone by, and I still cry in my pillow every night.

Though I could not understand why this should happen to my husband at the peak of his career, when he had everything to live for—I felt that somewhere, somehow I would find the strength and the courage to face reality. But thus far, my depression was very great. I spent many hours with my priest and he constantly told me that God would show me the way.

And then, while watching your sweet face, day after day, I suddenly knew that God had chosen your courage and tremendous faith to show me the way. Whenever my day is bad and a little on the depressing side, I think of you, and say a Hail Mary for your husband and mine, and the day seems to be a little less depressing.

God certainly moves in mysterious ways, for suddenly, ‘He’ showed me the way through you, dear gracious, humble and courageous Lady.

May God help you to find peace within yourself. I know that your great love will never lessen as mine never shall, for my husband. Days shall never
be the same again but time has a funny way of easing the ache in our hearts.

I know that you have received a countless number of letters and that it would be impossible for you to answer each one personally, but I would be humbly grateful if you would find time to answer me with a brief message.

May God Bless You and your children and I thank ‘Him’ for showing me the way through you.

Sincerely and Humbly
I remain
Helen M. Milano

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

My Dear Mrs. Kennedy My heart has gone out to you these past weeks, you do have my Deepest sympathy, and have thought of you so much today. I lost my husband three years ago today, and you have to pass the same way before you know how the other person feels, of course you will have every thing you need financially while I was left without money. I have to sew for a living until I can draw Social Security, and have six years to go. My Husband was dying with cancer. When President Kennedy was elected, we sat up all night the night the election returns were coming in he would come to every few minutes and ask if he had won, and when he was elected he said I can die in peace now knowing he will Be President. I know they are Both in Heaven now. My heart went out to you, this week when you were on television. I know you miss him as a husband and a Father for your children. And Our Country sure misses Him as our President. I pray that God will be very near you in these days.

Yours in Christ
Mrs Ruth Stafford

EDITOR’S NOTE:
This undated letter was probably written on January 21, 1964—the anniversary of Mr. Stafford’s death.

KANSAS CITY, MO.
JANUARY 1964

Dear Mrs. Kennedy and Children:

Mrs. Kennedy I had to write you note. I never expect it to be answered. Because I am just a Missouri housemother. But “Bless” your heart I seen you on television thanking the world. My how I suffered over the tradedy. I didn’t hardly move for 4 days. It still seems like a terrible dream. Mrs. Kennedy my husband was killed instant to. He spent three years in service. I loved and waited for him. Then he came back, was run over by a bulldozer. I was left with 5 yr. old son. Thank God wasn’t for him I don’t know how I would have made it. Also a handicap little girl Susan. She does everything but talk. I have spent all my money finding the cause. The Drs. tells me nothing. So I just pray. That’s seems all a person can do now days. One thing I am thankful for. I saw Our Beloved President in person in Kansas City when he was campaining for to be the President. Mrs. Kennedy, would it be asking to much of you to send me a picture of you the President and your two lovely children. Altogether I have one of you, Caroline and the President. My little girl named her doll after Caroline. My Son sent in for the awards, that Pres. Kennedy said would be given to the children if their Father was killed. We rec’d ours. But my Son was disapointed. Because Pres. Johnson sign it. But death wont wait. Mrs Kennedy I think some one was asleep. When this tragic thing happen. I don’t want to seem overbearing. But believe me I feel half of me is gone. I never miss one of his speeches. The whole world love him. I just wondering if the President knew. How well he was loved. Never in my life other than my family. Did a death ever effect me so.

Well dear,
take care, pray
look forward
I hope some day I can make the trip. Just to
pass the President resting Place.
Mary Glassner