WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of The U.S. Conference of Mayors issued the following statement today in recognition of the upcoming 50th Anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, along with a memo to the nation's mayors regarding the Conference's involvement in the commemoration on Friday, November 22, 2013:
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"We are pleased to be a part of this commemoration. President Kennedy had a special relationship with The United States Conference of Mayors. His grandfather was the Mayor of Boston and his mother's life was intertwined in city politics. President Kennedy savored and enjoyed local politics throughout his life. Mayors were involved in all aspects of his policy as he genuinely knew that mayors where the closest to the hearts and minds of the American people.
"In June of 1963, he chose our Annual Meeting in Honolulu as the forum to announce his five-point plan on civil rights. Mayors also supported his 1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Today we continue to work for all to have basic human rights and we work with mayors across the globe supporting the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
"The legacy of President Kennedy's deep respect for politics and public service is very much alive as The U.S. Conference of Mayors keeps his legacy and vision alive with the strong partnership we respectfully hold with the JFK Institute of Politics at Harvard. For decades since his tragic death, we continue to bring new mayors and old mayors together to learn, and carry forth the best ideas and the best actions to be shared to make our cities and our nation better for all."
To: The Mayor
From:Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director
Re: Nation's Mayors Honor the Legacy of President Kennedy
At our Annual Meeting in June it was agreed that mayors would offer tributes to President Kennedy's contributions to our cities and our nation on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his sudden death in Dallas Texas - November 22, 1963.
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings addressed our June Annual Meeting and asked all of the nations mayors join him "as the eyes of the world are turning to Dallas in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the assassination. I am asking my fellow American mayors to get together to salute the life and legacy of a great President - President Kennedy."
On Friday, November 22, 2013, mayors across the country will participate in local events, issue proclamations and designate that day as a solemn day of remembrance and reflection as they share what the life and tragic death of President John F. Kennedy meant to them. In particular, mayors are being asked to ring their church bells at12:15 p.m.Central Standard Time, and then observe a moment of silence at 12:30 p.m. CST.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. Thereare 1,399 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, themayor. Like us on Facebook atfacebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors.
SOURCE The U.S. Conference of Mayors
