A unique collection: signatures of seven of John F. Kennedy’s military pallbearers, on individual black-bordered custom-made collector’s cards. Signers are: George A. Barnum (Coast Guard), Richard E. Gaudreau (Air Force), James L. Felder (Army), Jerry J. Diamond (Marines), Douglas A. Mayfield (Army), Hubert Clark (Navy), and Timothy F. Cheek (Marines), the Marine in the now famous photograph who was standing behind Mrs. Kennedy and Caroline as they knelt beside the casket. Each is accompanied by its original mailing envelope, as well as a 2002 newspaper photo of the pallbearers carrying Kennedy’s casket down the cathedral stairs.
On Monday, November 25, 1963, following a burial Mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, Kennedy was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. The funeral was attended by heads of state and representatives from more than 100 countries, with untold millions more watching on television. In fact, not since the 1910 funeral of King Edward VII had there been such a large gathering of presidents, prime ministers, and royalty at a state funeral. The funeral, 46 years ago this month, created a multitude of iconic images, including his young son saluting his father’s coffin as it passed, as well as an image of the men represented here carrying the casket down the cathedral’s steps as the family slowly followed behind.
RRAuction COA.
