In the Houston Chronicle's obituary/ front page story on Ted Kennedy's death, the reporter ask him (a few weeks ago) what he planned to do on Thanksgiving. Kennedy knew he was dying and said he wanted to go sit on his brothers' graves alone. I learned today he will be buried nearby.
That stunned me because I have done that. I have sat in the dark in Arlington Cemetery on both JFK's grave and Robert Kennedy's grave nearby.
A month after Robert Kennedy was assassinated, I went to visit Hunter Horgan at seminary. It was hot, we were wearing cut off's and t-shirts and watching some dull movie and drinking beer. I asked him what we could do for fun and he said, 'Let's go to Arlington and see Kennedy's grave."
So we did.
I never thought we would get in but it was wide open.
I never thought we would get t the grave site but we marched right up the hill and no one challenged us.
The beer buzz was wearing off and I asked Hunter if he thought we were being watched. He said , "Surely." So we wanted whomever was watching us to know we were not trying to sneak up or vandalize the grave.....
So being on Robert. E. Lee's former property, we started 'whistling Dixie' literally and as loud as we could.
We marched up the hill. No challenge. We sat down on the wall. The Eternal Flame was going and Robert Kennedy's grave -- which then seemed so close by JFK's was still a mound of fresh dirt... and a temporary marker. Later I learned it was basically a permanent one-- a simple cross..
Of course we were overwhelmed at that moment at where we were and that we were alone and that all of Washington, D.C. stretched before us all the way up to the Capitol Dome.
I commented to Hunter, and many times later, that I bet even the Kennedy family -- who all traveled together and with body guards and such, had never been here alone and in the still darkness... silent with the hiss of the gas flame on John Kennedy's grave-- one already settled in the dirt-- and the fresh smell of earth from Robert Kennedy's grave... and all alone to meditate or just sit.
Of course Hunter and I now were completely sober and in awe at where we were. I think we sat in silence for over two hours and did not talk..
When we slowly walked down the hill, we did not whistle Dixie or anything else.
