John F. Kennedy - Holyoke, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 12.597 W 072° 37.118
18T E 696575 N 4675832
A memorial to John F. Kennedy, the winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Biography in 1957, is located on the grounds of Our Lady of the Cross Church at 23 Sycamore St. Holyoke, MA.
Waymark Code: WM1359Z
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 09/19/2020
Views: 4
The John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza is south of Our Lady of the Cross Roman Catholic church in Holyoke. After the death of the President, the parishioners raised funds, constructed and dedicated a plaza in his honor.
The plaza consists of a granite base on which a bust of Kennedy rests on a slender base. The bust of a young looking President Kennedy is approximately 28" by 24" by 14". On either side of the statue are large horizontal granite blocks bearing quotes for his inaugural speech and book, Profiles in Courage. At the rear are six granite blocks listing recipients of the JFK award and the Grand Marshals of the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
The plaza was a creation of the Rock of Ages Corporation and
is administered by City of Holyoke, Soldiers Memorial Commission.
The front of the base is inscribed:
JOHN
FITZGERALD
KENNEDY
35th PRESIDENT
OF THE
UNITED STATES
MAY 29, 1917
NOV. 22, 1963
The back of the base is inscribed:
{SEAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES}
JOHN
FITZGERALD
KENNEDY
MAY 29, 1917
NOV. 22, 1963
{Image of The Eternal Flame}
The front of the left horizontal block is inscribed:
"AND SO, MY FELLOW AMERICANS, ASK NOT WHAT
YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU -- ASK WHAT
YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY" INAUGURAL ADDRESS 1961
{SEAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES}
1961 1963
The front of the right horizontal block is inscribed:
{SEAL OF MASSACHUSETTS}
1952 1960
"ALL THIS WILL NOT BE FINISHED IN THE FIRST
HUNDRED DAYS, NOR WILL IT BE FINISHED IN
THE FIRST THOUSAND DAYS, BUT LET US BEGIN."
INAUGURAL ADDRESS 1961
The back of the left horizontal block is inscribed:
"A MAN DOES WHAT HE MUST -- IN SPITE OF PERSONAL
CONSEQUENCES, IN SPITE OF OBSTACLES AND DAMAGES AND
PRESSURES, AND THAT IS THE BASIS OF ALL HUMAN MORALITY"
"PROFILES IN COURAGE" 1955
The back of the right horizontal block is inscribed:
"... LET US GO FORTH TO LEAD THE LAND WE LOVE ASKING
HIS BLESSING AND HIS HELP, BUT KNOWING THAT HERE
ON EARTH GOD'S WORK MUST TRULY BE OUR OWN."
INAUGURAL ADDRESS 1961
John F. Kennedy was born in Brookline, MA on May 29, 1917. He served as the commander of PT 109 during World War II and was subsequently elected to the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate before being the youngest person to be elected President of the United States at age 43 in 1960. He was assassinated while in office on November 22, 1963.
John F. Kennedy's first book Why England Slept was written in 1940 when he was a senior at Harvard University. While Kennedy was a Senator he won the Pulitzer Prize in Biography in 1957 for his 1956 book Profiles in Courage this was followed by his 1958 book A Nation of Immigrants.
Books written by John F. Kennedy:
Profiles in Courage - Pulitzer Prize in Biography 1957
A Nation of Immigrants
Why England Slept
The Kennedy Wit: The Humor and Wisdom of John F. Kennedy
Prelude to Leadership: The Post-War Diary, Summer 1945
John F. Kennedy: In His Own Words
The Greatest Speeches Of President John F. Kennedy
Quotations of John F. Kennedy
The Letters of John F. Kennedy
The Strategy Of Peace
The Burden And The Glory