Twenty-five years ago the hopes of a nation were shattered as Robert Kennedy lay dying, his final words “Is everyone else all right?” reflecting the person that he was.
On June 6 a “Mass for Courage and Reconciliation” was held to mark his anniversary. Patricia Harty reports.
The crowd of some 18,000 who had gathered at Arlington Cemetery fell silent as Ethel Kennedy and her eldest child Kathleen stood in front of the grave, made the sign of the cross and prayed for a moment. They were followed by Joseph P. Kennedy II (D. Mass.) who knelt and kissed the marble slab bearing his father’s name.
President Clinton and his wife also kneeled to pay homage and perhaps reflect on the legacy of the man whom they sought to emulate. Joining hands they returned to their seats as Aretha Franklin sang “America the Beautiful,” in a slow, haunting voice – a soulful beginning to what was to be a nostalgic and touching memorial service.
Joseph Kennedy, who at age 15 had walked through the funeral train shaking hands and thanking people for coming on that tragic journey from New York to Washington, struggled for control as he spoke of the father he had known for just a few short years. “This was a man, my father…. If we are to have him as a hero— let us recall what he wanted to do — and all he’d be willing to put on the line to achieve such goals,” he said fighting back the tears, “and think about what he would want us to do, were we lucky enough to have him with us today.”
There were many tears shed during the rest of the ceremony, as Robert Kennedy’s children, relations, friends and colleagues read excerpts from his speeches.
Father Creedon, a priest from Ireland celebrating the Mass, summoned the listeners to take heart. “Let us take courage from the life of Robert Francis Kennedy and let us bend our minds with his to God’s reconciling task: For a world of racial equity.”
President Clinton also spoke of Kennedy’s efforts to help the disadvantaged and heal the divisions in American society.
“His promise was that the hands that reached out to him might someday reach out to each other, and that together, those hands might make America all it could be.” Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. the 39-year-old environmental lawyer who bears a striking resemblance to his father, read from the Book of Psalms: “May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, till the moon be no more!”
But it wasn’t all sad. As with every Kennedy occasion there was joy as well as tears. Surely Robert Kennedy’s heart would have been glad at the indomitable spirit that prompted the antics of his youngest granddaughter as she continued to struggle down from her father Christopher’s lap and parade in front of President Clinton with her dress over her head. As always at Kennedy events, children were in abundance. Young Robert Ill served Mass as his sister Kate, or “Kick,” joined her young cousins as gift bearers. One by one they laid white roses in front of the plain white cross that marks the final resting place of Robert Francis Kennedy.
And there was music. Andy Williams sang “Ave Maria” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” as he did at the funeral Mass 25 years before. Aretha Franklin joined the choir and musicians of the All Saints Roman Catholic Church of Baltimore in rousing renditions of “Amen,” “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” and “This Land Is Your Land.”
As the sun went down candles were passed out to the crowd and voices were lifted in hymn. Hands were shaken and the ceremony, which had been both uplifting and incredibly sad, came to a close with a final prayer from Father Creedon: “…Light of Lights, Son of God, bless these candles tonight so that by their illumination we may see the face of heaven and rekindle in our land the gentle nonviolent struggle for justice.
People placed the still lit candles on the white stone grave markers as they filed out of Arlington, and thousands of these lights flickered in the twilight adding an eerie beauty to the evening.
Robert Francis Kennedy R.I.P.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in the July August 1993 issue of Irish America. ♦
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