Kennedy brothers reunited

　
Last week I spent some time remembering Ted Kennedy. It was somewhat confusing as to know what to record on my PVR because the online guide did not provide this information. I managed.

Of course there was lots of information online. The family set up a nice web site. There was also Twitter search which was interesting. Most comments were very nice and I ignored the ones that were not.

I was directed to pictures of Ted and President Obama. They were all recent ones and Ted did not look too well which he was not.

Someone asked - since when do we celebrate when someone dies? I thought that is a good question.

I was remembering the funerals of his two brothers. I did not watch JFK’s in 1963. I did watch Bobby Kennedy’s in 1968 as I was finishing high school and studying for my final exams.

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I watched the memorial at the Kennedy Library in Boston. A long time ago I had given a small donation to the library and I have in my files a small note from Jackie Kennedy thanking me for my donation.

I was interested in hearing the younger generation speak. Caroline Kennedy spoke last at this event. I was impressed by how well she spoke.

At the funeral mass Rory Kennedy and Teddy Kennedy III were some of the new generation that shared in the prayers of the people. Rory Kennedy was born after her dad Bobby died in 1968.

Then the funeral procession moved on to Capitol Hill where Ted had worked for 47 years. There was a very emotional goodbye there.

Then it was on to Arlington National Cemetery. As we waited for the funeral procession to arrive CNN showed images from the funerals of JFK and RFK. The first was on a cold crisp November afternoon. The second was on a warm June evening and in fact it was so late that candles were used.

This time it was getting dark as the ceremonies had been delayed several hours. There was no provision for this so the cameras kept on showing lights where they were - particularly the eternal flame on JFK’s grave.

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It was a time of celebration and remembering Ted Kennedy and his two brothers.

There were various versions of Ted Kennedy’s words which could be found easily at Youtube and in other places. It sums up well what he and his brothers stood for.

The work goes on;
The hope still lives;
The cause endures and
The dream shall never die.