Hyannis Hero Letterbox

“I always go to Hyannisport to be revived,
to know again the power of the sea
and the master who rules over it and all of us.”

- John F. Kennedy

Placed: 3/31/06
Location: Hyannis, MA
Status: Alive and well


Background

This box brings back fond memories of my grandmother. Why, you may ask, would a tribute box to an ex-President foster memories of a relative? My grandmother absolutely loved JFK! She came to this country from southern Italy and for some reason, she and the rest of her generation just identified with this man. They came from completely opposite backgrounds, values and social scale; but she watched every speech the then President ever made and felt a deep kinship to this man.

One of my most vivid memories from childhood was that black day when JFK was shot. My grandmother called our house, almost hysterical. As did the rest of the country, she had seen the tragic events unfold on that fateful, tragic November day in Dallas. She cried on the phone to my mother and her last words before hanging up the phone were "I feel like I lost a son." She continued to mourn the slain President for months.

Imagine, this diminutive, southern Italian feeling like this upper crust, saavy Irish politician was her son! Over the years, I've heard many others who felt that same, unexplained kinship to a man they never really knew. Some have called his Presidency the Age of Camelot; others have more derogatory phrases but none of us can deny his impact on our lives. I, for one, find it difficult to see a picture of JFK and not think of my grandmother.

Well, Nana, this box is for you!

Clues

105 degrees from Robert's bench.


Please rehide carefully!

All material contained herewith
has been copyrighted by Pinecone Productions