HAROLD KELLER / L’Observateur / July 21, 1999

“It’s appointed unto man once to die, but after that, the Judgement.”(Hebrews 9:27). Saturday was John F. Kennedy Jr.’s day to die. He, with hiswife, the former Carolyn Bissette, and her sister, Lauren, were killed in a plane crash. All day Saturday and Sunday, the world waited as rescueworkers searched for the plane that carried these three young people to their deaths. All the news was about the missing plane and the famousJohn F. Kennedy Jr.Saturday, one reporter asked this question: “Do you think if it was any other person rather than John F. Kennedy Jr. that the rescue operationwould be so aggressive and widespread?” How ridiculous! The answer was “No.”Does that make it wrong? No. The world is a respecter of people. Rich andfamous people, automatically, get more attention. They make for goodnews.

I still remember the exact place I was on certain days – Pearl Harbor, VJ Day, my father’s death, and the death of the late President John F. Kennedy.On Nov. 22, 1963, when I heard that the late President was killed inDallas, Texas, I was putting one of my political signs in Oswald and Betty Duhe’s yard. I was then running for state representative. I was shocked! Myemotions were immediately drained. I felt numb. I liked John F. Kennedy Sr.Today, as I recall my feelings when hearing of his death, I try to understand how the Kennedy family has coped with so much tragedy through the years. If their story were fiction, nobody would believe it.I think we would all agree that what people in the world seek most – prosperity, popularity, power and pleasure (the four P’s) – the Kennedys had in abundance. John F. Kennedy Jr. was considered one of the sexiestmen in the world. He had everything a person could want – riches, goodlooks, prestige. I’ve followed his career, as did most people. I can’t recalltoo much of it, other than him failing the bar exam a couple of times.

Negative things like that make good news.

Saturday, I wondered what his thoughts were as he faced death – if, indeed, he had time to think. I remember how, as a little boy, he gave afinal salute at his daddy’s funeral. So innocent, so pure, so touching, soreal! As I saw this picture again Sunday morning, I was reminded of what Jesus said: “In order to enter the Kingdom, we have to be as little children.”I pray that these three people who were killed Saturday were ready to meet their Maker. No money, popularity, power, or pleasure, meantanything then.

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

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