An Cosantóir

30 | Cadet Honour Guard at President Kennedy's funeral, Washington 25th November, 1963. by Col Bill Nott (retd) P resident Kennedy's visit to Ireland in 1963 was the first visit of an American president to the land of his forefathers. The visit took the country by storm at the time and required the involvement of a large number of Defence Forces' units in ceremonial events. One such event was a wreath-laying ceremony at Arbour Hill at which members of 36 Cadet Class performed the ceremonial drill under Lt (later Brig Gen) Frank Colclough. The RTÉ film footage of the event shows the camera focused almost entirely on the president who is clearly looking in the direction of the cadets as they performed their drill. On return to the US he requested a filmed record of the entire visit including the Arbour Hill ceremony and, in particular, the cadet ceremonial drill. As the RTÉ film did not include the drill, 37th Cadet Class (the 36th having moved on after commissioning) was tasked with reenacting it at Arbour Hill and the resulting footage forwarded to the White House. According to his wife, Jacqueline, the president showed it to many a distinguished visitor. A few months later the assassination of the president shook Ireland and the world. As plans were being made for his state funeral, Mrs Kennedy recalled her husband's admiration of the cadets' ceremonial drill and requested an Irish cadet guard to render honours at his graveside. The Irish government immediately acceded to the request and, as a result, the day before the funeral 26 members of 37th Cadet Class found themselves on an Aer Lingus Boeing 707 flying with President de Valera to Washington in compliance with the First Lady's wishes. Also included in the party were OC Cadet School, Lt Col (later Col) Cyril Mattimoe, Capt (later Maj Gen) Kevin Duffy, and Lt Colclough, who would again be the officer of the guard. The rest is history, and featured in an excellent Nemeton TV documentary shown on TG 4 under the title 'Kennedy's Cadets'. In the following January, Mrs Kennedy wrote to President de Valera to thank him for coming to her husband's funeral "and for bringing with him the Irish Cadets – who had moved him a few months before in Ireland – and who then moved the world at his grave". Fast forward to 2011 and a reunion of 37th Cadet Class in Dungarvan where a decision was taken to organise a trip to Washington in 2013 to commemorate the historic event of 50 years before. After many contacts, meetings, emails and discussions, 11 former cadets of 37th Cadet Class travelled to Washington on 23rd November, accompanied by a colour party of five senior cadets An Cosantóir February 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie drawn from the current 89th Cadet Class under Comdt Frank 37th Cadet Class retired officers at graveside Flannery, and of President Kennedy. a piper, Sgt Joe Meade. Eight of the retired officers' wives also travelled. Prior to departure, the US Embassy held a short commemorative ceremony involving 89th Cadet Class, which was attended by An Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and Chief of Staff Lt Gen Conor O'Boyle. On 25th November the party was received by Lt Col J Dunne (retd) lays a wreath at the 'Old Guard' President Kennedy's grave. (the US Army's ceremonial unit) in Fort Myer, Washington, where we had been accommodated in 1963. We were delighted to meet US Army Lt Martin Dockery (retd) who had been our liaison officer at the time and who had flown down from New York for the occasion. After a display of Old Guard ceremonial drill, Lt Col Pete McMahon (retd) presented a replica of the 37th Cadet Class pennant to the Officer Commanding the Old Guard. The main ceremony, which took place in the afternoon at President Kennedy's graveside at nearby Arlington Cemetery, con-

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