The article discusses why President John F. Kennedy's casket remained closed during his funeral. It explains that the decision was made due to the extensive injuries sustained by the president as a result of the assassination. While families of deceased loved ones often prefer to have an open casket to bid farewell, in this case, it was deemed more appropriate to keep the casket closed.
President Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Immediately following the tragic event, Kennedy's body was taken to the Bethesda Naval Hospital for an autopsy and examination by a team of doctors. The examination revealed that he had been shot by Lee Harvey Oswald from the Texas School Book Depository building. The bullets caused severe damage to the president's head and neck.
Given the nature of the injuries, it was determined that an open casket would not be suitable for President Kennedy's funeral. Open casket viewings are common to allow friends and family to pay their respects and have closure, as it provides a chance to see the loved one for the last time. However, in this case, the extent of the president's injuries would have been too distressing for those in attendance. The decision to have a closed casket was made to spare the public, as well as the family, from the graphic details of his injuries.
Additionally, as a public figure, it was important to maintain a sense of dignity and decorum during the funeral proceedings. An open casket with such severe injuries would have been highly disturbing for the nation and could have potentially incited further unrest, given the strong emotions surrounding the president's assassination. By keeping the casket closed, the focus could remain on honoring the president's legacy and mourning his loss, rather than dwelling on the gruesome details of his death.
However, despite the closed casket, President Kennedy's funeral was still a grand and solemn event. The casket, draped with an American flag, was carried on a military caisson to the Capitol Rotunda, where it laid in state. Thousands of mourners lined the streets to pay their respects and thousands more visited the rotunda to honor the fallen president.
In conclusion, JFK's casket remained closed during his funeral due to the extensive injuries he suffered as a result of the assassination. The decision was made to spare the public and his family from the distressing details of his injuries. It also aimed to maintain dignity and respect during the funeral proceedings, allowing the nation to focus on mourning his loss and celebrating his legacy. Despite the closed casket, President Kennedy's funeral was a large-scale tribute attended by thousands of mourners.
