On The Wings Of Eagles…

[Richard Allan Jenni]

Yes, the Zapruder film again. Last night Joseph Butman and I began trading comments on TPN about the limo driver’s “gun,” and that friendly discussion led me to once again view the film over and over. This particular version of the video runs on QuickTime (not whatever powers YouTube) and has been “stabilized.” I now see that what so many have called a handgun is actually the glint of the bright Texas sun reflecting off Roy H. Kellerman’s head- Roy sitting in the front passenger seat. The much vilified limo driver was William Robert Greer of the Secret Service.

From “The Assassination Of William Greer” by Dale K. Myers:

“Greer, who joined the US Secret Service in 1945 having served in the US Navy during World War II, became a personal bodyguard to both Presidents Truman and Eisenhower before becoming the ill-fated driver of President Kennedy’s limousine in Dallas on November 22, 1963…

…Author William Manchester reported in Death of a President, without citation, that at Parkland Hospital, ‘Those who had been in the motorcade were racking their brains with if only this, if only that. One of them came to her (Jackie Kennedy). Bill Greer, his face streaked with tears, took her head between his hands and squeezed until she thought he was going to squeeze her skull flat. He cried, ‘Oh, Mrs. Kennedy! Oh, my God! Oh, my God! I didn’t mean to do it. I didn’t hear! I should have swerved the car! I couldn’t help it! Oh, Mrs. Kennedy, as soon as I saw it I swerved. If only I’d seen in time! Oh!’ Then he released her head and put his arms around her and wept on her shoulder.’ [Death of a President, p.290]

In fact, Mrs. Kennedy felt so sorry for Greer that she requested that he drive the naval ambulance containing the casket to the naval hospital. [O’Donnell and Powers with McCarthy, Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye, p.44]”

Whatever William Robert Greer did right or wrong that day in Dallas, he didn’t shoot JFK. Bill died on 23 February 1985. Rest in peace, Bill. And I’m so sorry. I “was blind, where now I see…”

I also confess this morning that I didn’t watch the Super Bowl- that I learned from a newspaper headline on my way to the post office yesterday that Green Bay won- and that I just now watched O’Reilly’s interview with Obama. I was actually impressed with Barry- and how two years as President have polished him. I continue to have little or no agreement with the policies of his corrupt administration, but must admit he has become a more formidable adversary than ever before. If not Constitutionally disqualified for the run in 2012, Zero will be tough to beat. Today’s Rasmussen’s Presidential Approval Index is but a mere negative 8%, which makes a good case for Obama’s political comeback.

In that regard, I pledge to vigorously back the Republican nominee, as long as it isn’t Newt Gingrich or Mike Huckabee- in which case I would have to hold my nose. The present frontrunner is clearly Mitt Romney, and my heart is still with Ron Paul. I dearly hope the valiant Congressman from Texas will surge in the polls. I oppose any Taxed-Enough-Already third party run- and whoever our Republican candidate is to be, I hope he or she gains an early decisive lead so we can skip all the counterproductive bickering and mudslinging.

Finally today, it may be the little things we do that save us in the end- like hanging our bath towels out in the sun to dry, instead of running the clothes dryer- or buying American-made products, though they may cost a little more. Yes, things like taking the time to speak with our neighbors about what’s wrong with America- or only forwarding those emails that might actually enlighten our friends. And maybe we can finally become colorblind as a nation- and become more concerned about the purity of a patriot’s heart than about his or her religion. Maybe we can get down on our knees more often and beg Almighty God for deliverance from the evils that surround us.

Yes, little things- like sacrificing the toys we want today for the necessities we may need tomorrow in time of dire emergency- or investing in our future by paying off those credit cards. Maybe we could distract our children from their video games long enough to reach them a little American history- maybe tell them why General Washington knelt in the snow at Valley Forge. Maybe even take a covered dish to a young family we know isn’t doing so well- or give that long neglected rusting bicycle in the garage to a poor kid down the street.

And all those little things really aren’t so little, are they? They are indeed the worthy building blocks of a well-spent lifetime. The old song lyric oft crosses my mind, “The little gift you send on Christmas Day will not bring back the friend you turned away.” And when you come right down to it, America is really no bigger than your neighbor who just lost his job- or the widow on the next block who needs a helping hand. America may stretch from “sea to shining sea,” but God measures our vast nation by the individual heartbeat- and to what degree we each struggle for the common good as well as our own survival. Those little things will lift us up- even on the wings of eagles…

[Sandra]

Another very good post! He does need to be seen in a truthful light. I hope this gets around and people who thought he had, finally find out that it was not the case... Maybe it is time to take the kids out doors and forget all the electronics and teach them what life should be? Parents should turn off the TV and do things with there kids too.  I buy all the American things I can, difficult to find I might ad. I hang cloths out on the line, have for years... They smell better to, I run them in the dryer after I bring them in for 5 minutes just to fluff them up. By the way, people need to be aware of those MERCURY filled curly light bulbs, Mercury is a poison for those who do not know, don't by them!  They can't even be made here because it is illegal using Mercury! We sure do not need that in our water supply! Buyer beware as always these days. Thanks again for a good post.