Remembering Kennedy In Arkansas
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
President Kennedy`s visit to Heber Springs
40 years ago still evokes memories and emotions in Arkansas.
Kennedy visited the resort town to dedicate the Greer`s Ferry
Dam on October third, 1963. Forty-five days later he was struck
down by a sniper`s bullet.
Carl Garner, age 88, keeps letters from Caroline Kennedy, a
correspondence that started after her father`s visit to Heber
Springs.
As an engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers, Garner was in
charge of the Greers Ferry dedication, setting the stage,
microphones and chairs.
Garner shook hands with the president on what is now called the
John F- Kennedy Overlook at the lake.
Garner started writing to Caroline Kennedy years later, inviting
her to anniversaries of the dam`s dedication and sharing his great
admiration for the president.
Caroline Kennedy has returned his notes, calling Garner once and
writing him four letters that he keeps in his basement files along
with news clippings and photographs about Kennedy.
Posted by Mike Hellgren
