esrosedotblog

I love this kind of story.

Mystery From the Grave Beside Oswald’s, Solved

Dan Barry runs down yet another Oswald conspiracy theory. Or theories. Or no theory at all.

The grave next to Oswald was empty for some time, then it was bought and a marker identical to Oswald's was placed next to him.

Nick Beef.

It turns out that a guy whose life was deeply affected by the Kennedy assassination and who also happens to have turned out to be a kind of performance artist discovered the grave site still for sale. One of his nom de performance is Nick Beef.

It has never gained big notoriety but more than a few of the conspiracy nuts tried to run down just who this guy was and where he came from.

As usual with the rabid and star eyed conspiracists they could not see the forest for the trees.

Dan Barry had no trouble tracking the guy down although I think the guy actually came to him. Then he ran it down.

Many of us remember those days. We know where we were when it happened. I was on an illicit coffee break with my friend John, going back to the office on 15th Street in Philadelphia. There was a day bar with a big window and the news was on the teevee. I suppose there were people yowling and upset or I don't think we could have noticed it.

I remember that we got back to the office and we both decided it might be inappropriate to tell people what we saw as they would correctly infer we were out doing what we were forbidden to do (It was that kind of place). Certainly we were not the only ones who disobeyed the rules. I flouted all of them. I was that kind of corporate player but I somehow escaped deep censure for it. Others were not so lucky.

Anyway, the news started to come in from wives and workers who were outside the monastery in which we worked. It was a sad day.

I saw Oswald getting shot. We were home, there was to be a church dedication in a little while. One of our sons had been in the hospital with a hernia. And we were sitting catching our breath.

Here comes Oswald. Here comes Jack Ruby. Bang.

It was one of those moments when it is hard to believe we are seeing what we are seeing. It was that way for the commentators as well.

Total confusion.

I remember getting it together and going to the service. I was debuting a specially composed "overture" for the opening of the church. A big deal.

I think things went well.

I never much bought into the stories and rumors. It was over. I did watch the funeral but it was hard to take.

While I am at it, I was in a car riding to western NY State to visit an apple processing plant when Robert Kennedy was killed. It had already happened but we had been on the road, stayed at a motel late, got up and hit the road. Then heard.

I didn't much like Bobby. It was awful but it didn't touch me. Jack? I also was not a fan. I was never surprised at the stuff that came out after about him. I don't think we had him long enough to see his mark. It would be hypocritical of me to say that it broke my heart. The President part did. Not the Jack part.

Labels: history