{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://bit.ly/2jDqWWh", "John F. Kennedy remembered 50 years after assassination by residents, dignitaries attending Eternal Flame ceremony in Springfield", "2013-11-26", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Richard Neal", "N000015", "bit.ly", null, null, "legacy", "John F. Kennedy remembered 50 years after assassination by residents, dignitaries attending Eternal Flame ceremony in Springfield\t\t \nBy Peter Goonan, The Republican  on November 22, 2013 at 3:27 PM, updated November 25, 2013 at 11:21 AM\nSPRINGFIELD \u2014 The memory of President John F. Kennedy lived on Friday during a ceremony at the Eternal Flame at Forest Park, with residents and dignitaries recalling him on the 50th anniversary of his assassination as a great leader, as an inspiration to millions and as \u201cthat good-looking fellow, too.\u201d Approximately 200 people attended the annual ceremony, including William Marot, formerly of Springfield and Wilbraham, who traveled from his new home in Oregon to once again attend. Marot said he has missed just \u201ca couple\u201d of ceremonies since the monument was created in Springfield in 1964, and has served as co-chairman of the event. Anyone who thought he was not going to be at the ceremony this year, marking the 50th anniversary was \u201ccrazy,\u201d he said, noting that he lived in New Hampshire for 18 years before Oregon, still coming to Springfield each year.  \u00a0  Another special guest at the ceremony was Marc A. Jacques, a Springfield native, who was representing the Canadian government in his role as academic and economic affairs officer for the Consulate General of Canada. Jacques presented a framed photo of Kennedy and then-Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson and their wives, taken before Kennedy made a speech before the Canadian Parliament speaking of the special bond between the two neighboring countries. But the ceremony was also about the many residents who said they continue to have a great sense of loss as a result of Kennedy\u2019s assassination on Nov. 22, 1963. Germaine Senecal, 83, of Springfield, began to cry as she recalled Kennedy in comments just before the ceremony. \u201cI just loved him,\u201d Senecal said. \u201cHe was such a good president. \u201cIt stuck with me, what he did, the leadership. He was a good-looking fellow, too.\u201d Speakers included Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, former Mayor Charles V. Ryan and Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe. Congressman Richard E. Neal reflects on President John F. Kennedy , on the 50th anniversary of his death. Neal attended a remembrance ceremony at the eternal flame located in Forest Park. Neal said Kennedy was \u201can inspiration to millions who drew on his life\u201d and that it is extraordinary that his memory still has a grip on society 50 years after his death. Neal said he was also inspired by Kennedy and that he remembers being at Buckingham School when he and classmates learned that Kennedy was shot, and the \u201csense of unreality\u201d felt that day.  Sarno said Kennedy was \u201cforever young, and always held in reverence\u201d and knows how \u201cbeloved and respected he was in the world.\u201d  Sarno also praised the crowd that gathered at Forest Park, and remains strong in honoring Kennedy each year.  \u201cHe connected with us,\u201d Sarno said. \u201cWe felt like he was in our living room.\u201d  Ralph Cardaropoli, 80, of Springfield, said he comes to the remembrance ceremony almost every year.\n\u201cHe was somebody I admired very much,\u201d Cardaropoli said. \u201cI just feel things would be a lot better today if he had lived and completed the things he was planning to do.\u201d  Ronald LeBlanc, 65, of Springfield, said he is a daily walker at Forest Park, but was coming to his first remembrance ceremony.  \u201cEspecially for Massachusetts, everybody loved John Kennedy,\u201d LeBlanc said. \u201cIt was a tragedy.\u201d The ceremony included the laying of a rose and wreath and the playing of Taps, along with the singing of the national anthem and \"God Bless America.\" The Eternal Flame for Kennedy is only one of two in the United States, with the other at Kennedy's Arlington National Cemetery burial site.\nTo view the original article, please click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://bit.ly/2jDqWWh"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.1977311223745346, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}