House members propose day of remembrance for JFK

Members of the New England House delegation proposed a resolution on Thursday that calls for a national day of remembrance for President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in Dallas 50 years ago Friday.

The resolution, spearheaded by Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), proposes the nation observe May 29, 2014 — Kennedy’s birthday — as a day to remember the 35th president.

{mosads}The resolution recounts Kennedy’s life, including his service in the Navy, his election to the House in 1946, his election to the Senate in 1952, and his election as president in 1960.

“Whereas in his inaugural address, he challenged the nation and its citizens to, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country,’ and asked the nations of the world to come together to fight the ‘common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself,’ ” the resolution reads.

Democrats spoke on the House floor in Kennedy’s memory, leading Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to tears as she praised the dignity of the Kennedy family.

“We’re so pleased that, as the president said last night, as we’re here, Caroline is drawing crowds in Tokyo,” Pelosi said, referring to Caroline Kennedy, the former president’s daughter, who is arriving in Tokyo to serve as ambassador.

Pelosi also recounted how she met Kennedy after he delivered a speech in Los Angeles. She said her family went to a restaurant in the city that her family noted was very expensive.

“The doors open … and in comes President Kennedy from the speech. Came right over the table … ‘Tommy, how did you like my speech,’ ” Pelosi said, referring to her father, Thomas D’Alesandro Jr.

“Then he asked me how I liked his speech,” Pelosi said. “Imagine that.”

She added that after Kennedy’s appearance, her family stopped complaining about how expensive the food was. “After that, price was no object,” she said.