I Know Exactly Where I Was When John F. Kennedy Was Shot

The John Kennedy assassination on 11/22/63  was the 9/11 of my generation.  I'm lucky enough (or unlucky enough) to have lived long enough to have witnessed both.  Here's where I was for the former

I was a student at Mattituck Jr Sr High School out on Long Island.( Were you even born yet?).  Don't answer that!

Anyway, I was 10 years old in 5th grade.  The announcement was made by or principal in our afternoon class  on that dinky old brown framed loudspeaker up toward the ceiling .  I remember staring at it in disbelief as the words "President Kennedy has been shot" was uttered. Some were crying, some were just stunned.

I then recall all of us rising from our chairs to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. At that point, the classmate directly in front of me passed out and hitting his head on the chrome legs of the now old fashioned desk (you know, the ones with the inkwell).

I also DISTINCTLY recall the eery, TOTAL 'pin drop' silence in the hallways and in every part of the school as we left for the day (even the yellow bus ride home was oddly lacking conversation)

Fast forward to today where we have so many assassinations and attempts under our belt.    I can only wonder if there would be such a shocked response.  I certainly don't want to find out.

For those of you as old as I am, do you remember where YOU were?