US honors JFK anniversary

Across the country, ceremonies were held to honor the man whose life was cut tragically short at the age of 46 years when he was shot dead in Dallas, Texas.

“Today, we honor his memory and celebrate his enduring imprint on American history,” President Barack Obama said of the man affectionatly known as JFK.

At Dealey Plaza, the place where Kennedy was shot, church bells rang as a minute's silence was held to make the Lee Harvey Oswald fired his rifle from the sixth floor of a book depositary.

“You, Lord, have lifted us up from the horrible tragedy enacted in this place…the gun shot by one man that killed a president in whom many of us had set our hopes and dreams for a better America,” Bishop Kevin Farrell of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas told those gathered.

Two pipers from the Black Watch of the British army played a tribute their regiment performed at Kennedy's funeral 50 years ago as mourners visited Kennedy's grave in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington.

Kennedy was also remembered at a wreath laying ceremony in the Berlin neighborhood where he gave his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner" speech during the Cold War.

As Americans mourned the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, current President, Barack Obama said Friday he did not think about his own personal safety because he is extremely well guarded by the US Secret Service.

jlw/jm (AFP, Reuters)