FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2023
Media Contact:
Matt Porter
617-514-1574
press@jfklfoundation.org
www.jfklibrary.org
JFK Presidential Library to Commemorate 60th Anniversary of President Kennedy’s life and legacy with special exhibit and events
– November 22 Anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s Assassination will be marked with special exhibit, free admission, and musical remembrances –
BOSTON – During the week of the 60th Anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s death and funeral, the JFK Presidential Library will mark the occasion with a special temporary exhibit of items from his funeral and other remembrances.
In addition to the special exhibit on display from November 20 - 27, three separate musical performances will occur from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Library’s main pavilion on November 22. Two memory books will also be available for guests to write their reflections about the 35th President and his legacy. The Library will be open free to the public on November 21st and 22nd.
“President Kennedy’s time in office remains a powerful chapter in our country’s history,” said JFK Presidential Library and Museum Director Alan Price. “Around the world and across generations, people continue to answer President Kennedy’s call to public service. This special remembrance 60 years later is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on his life, his leadership, and his enduring impact on the world.”
“While November 22nd is the day that we mark the anniversary of President Kennedy’s death, it’s also an opportunity to remember how he lived – his service and sacrifice, his defense of democracy, and his commitment to building a more just and peaceful world,” said JFK Library Foundation Executive Director Rachel Flor. “For those of us with no living memory of President Kennedy, and those who remember exactly where they were when they heard the news, I hope that the commemorations planned at the JFK Library will give Americans the chance to come together to honor President Kennedy and recommit ourselves to giving back to this country for decades to come.”
The special exhibit of items related to Kennedy’s death and funeral includes reproductions of condolence mail including telegrams to Jacqueline Kennedy from Martin Luther King, Jr., Myrlie Evers, Indira Gandhi, and the widow of Officer J.D. Tippit, the Dallas policeman who was also killed by Lee Harvey Oswald.
The temporary exhibit will also include the sword carried by the riderless horse Black Jack during the funeral procession to symbolize the last journey of the fallen, and Jacqueline Kennedy's handwritten notes on the funeral arrangements. On November 22 only, the American flag that draped President Kennedy’s coffin will be displayed.
The three musical performances will feature local musicians including acclaimed cellist Leland Ko, esteemed jazz musician Lumanyano Mzi with a quartet, and the nationally renowned Boston Arts Academy Spiritual Ensemble. The performances will be recorded and posted later on the JFK Library’s YouTube channel and other social platforms.
Two memorial books, one located in the building lobby entrance and one at the end of the Museum’s self-guided tour will be available for visitors to leave a reflection about President John F. Kennedy and the legacy left behind that continues through today.
View a press kit featuring AV and textual materials related to the assassination and funeral.
Please note that the Library and Museum will close at 2:30pm on November 22.
About the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is one of 15 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. The Library seeks to advance the study and understanding of President Kennedy's life and career and the times in which he lived; and to promote a greater appreciation of America's political and cultural heritage, the process of governing and the importance of public service.
About the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is the non-profit partner and creative collaborator of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, which is administered by the United States National Archives and Records Administration. Over the past forty years, this partnership has produced world class exhibits, the largest, most advanced digital archive created by a presidential library, award-winning educational and digital resources, and public programs that make the Library the largest convener of public dialogues in the Boston area. Grounded in the archival evidence, these activities promote a greater appreciation of America’s political and cultural heritage, help people understand the major challenges facing democracy today, and inspire new generations to engage with the issues at the heart of contemporary life that relate to the legacy of President John F. Kennedy.