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Man Recalls Carrying JFK To Final Resting Place
JOHNS CREEK, Ga -- Hugh Clark has memories of President John F. Kennedy that most people only read about.
Clark served in the Navy. His assignment was as the top Navy pallbearer in Washington D.C.The day he thinks about often is Nov. 25, 1963."You could feel...you could feel the sorrow. It was almost like a coat," said Clark.He was just 18, but he was one of the pallbearers responsible for the body of President Kennedy.Clark said he and his fellow servicemen stayed with Kennedy from Andrews Air Force Base to Arlington Cemetery. He documented the memories through pictures. There are also the stories he likes to recount.The presidential casket alone was 1,300 pounds of mahogany and lead, said Clark. He said they practiced in secret to make sure they could carry it flat up the Capitol steps."Around 12 at night, we were at Arlington National Cemetery with an empty casket going up and down the steps," said Clark.He said the practice paid off."When we were going up the steps of the Capitol you could really hear us straining to keep it level," said Clark.Clark went on to collect letters and items from the Kennedy era. Carrying JFK to his grave was an honor Clark said he will take to his."It's a sense of pride...I know I will carry it to my grave," said Clark.Kennedy's funeral was the last one Clark served as a pallbearer for while he was in the Navy. He said he shipped out the next day.
JOHNS CREEK, Ga -- Hugh Clark has memories of President John F. Kennedy that most people only read about.
Clark served in the Navy. His assignment was as the top Navy pallbearer in Washington D.C.The day he thinks about often is Nov. 25, 1963."You could feel...you could feel the sorrow. It was almost like a coat," said Clark.He was just 18, but he was one of the pallbearers responsible for the body of President Kennedy.Clark said he and his fellow servicemen stayed with Kennedy from Andrews Air Force Base to Arlington Cemetery. He documented the memories through pictures. There are also the stories he likes to recount.The presidential casket alone was 1,300 pounds of mahogany and lead, said Clark. He said they practiced in secret to make sure they could carry it flat up the Capitol steps."Around 12 at night, we were at Arlington National Cemetery with an empty casket going up and down the steps," said Clark.He said the practice paid off."When we were going up the steps of the Capitol you could really hear us straining to keep it level," said Clark.Clark went on to collect letters and items from the Kennedy era. Carrying JFK to his grave was an honor Clark said he will take to his."It's a sense of pride...I know I will carry it to my grave," said Clark.Kennedy's funeral was the last one Clark served as a pallbearer for while he was in the Navy. He said he shipped out the next day.
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