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Program for a memorial service held on the final day of national mourning
Program for a memorial service held on the final day of national mourning

Program for a memorial service held on the final day of national mourning

Object number1998.043.0003
Date12/22/1963
ClassificationsDocuments
Creator Interreligious Committee on Race Relations
ObjectProgram, Memorial
Credit LineThe Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Collection
MediumPaper
Dimensions10 x 7 1/2 in. (25.4 x 19.1 cm)
Collections
DescriptionProgram from memorial service held at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, December 22, 1963, which was the final day of the official national mourning period, in memory of President John F. Kennedy. Text on the front page is as follows: "MEMORIAL SERVICE For Our Martyred President JOHN F. KENNEDY On the final day of national mourning Sunday, December 22, 1963 -- 4:00 P.M. at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D. C." This is followed by the order of events and the names of each person participating in the memorial service, including President Lyndon B. Johnson giving the Address. A quote from President Kennedy's inaugural address is printed beneath the "Candlelighting Ceremony" section of the program: "'The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it, and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.' John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address". Musical portions of the memorial service were performed by the Howard University Choir; songs included the National Anthem, the Navy Hymn, and "America the Beautiful." On the back of the program, three stanzas from "America the Beautiful" are printed, followed by a list of participating organizations and their leaders. The sponsoring organizations included the Interreligious Committee on Race Relations, the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, the Council of Churches of Greater Washington and the Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington.
Curatorial Commentary
Included in the Museum's temporary exhibit, "Mourning a President," about the funeral and mourning rites for President John F. Kennedy, this item will be on display on the Museum's seventh floor from November 17, 2017 to February 19, 2018. -- Lindsey Richardson, Curator of Collections