Jerry J. Diamond: U.S. Marine Corp. Pallbearer for John F.Kennedy, 1963

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Jerry J. Diamond.

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Hello! I'm Mr. Ed

Blog Created: 3-17-2024

Credits:

THANKS TO Chuck Phillips for the outstanding photos of Jerry at President Kennedy's funeral.

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Obituary by the Redmon Funeral Home, Stow, Ohio ~

Jerry J. Diamond, 67, died April 30, 2011. Jerry was born January 20, 1944 in Altoona, PA, growing up in Portage, PA. His family moved to Ohio when he was 12 years old and he graduated from Stow High School in 1961. Upon graduation, Jerry entered the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed in Washington, DC in the Honor Guard Platoon at 8th and I. He was especially proud that he was a pallbearer for the late President John F. Kennedy. He always considered his time in the Marine Corps as an honor and privilege to serve his country. He was honorably discharged from the service in 1966 and began employment with Ohio Edison in the Substation Construction Department. He retired from Ohio Edison/First Energy as General Foreman (electrical construction) in 2004. Jerry leaves his loving wife, Barbara; daughter Debra (Rusty) Dodd; and son Matthew Diamond (Jessica Timmons). He also leaves grandchildren Timothy Manley, Erin Dodd and Hunter and Heidi Timmons, his sister Bonnie (Albert) Statts of Wolverine, MI, Uncle Kenneth )(Peggy Ann) Trimbath of Portage, PA, Aunts Arleen Diamond, Mary Plasay and Helen McClemens of Sidman, PA, Aunt Eileen Aanrud of Cottege Grove, OR, Aunt Margaret Krestar of Tawas City, MI and many cousins, nephews and nieces. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Marie "Babe" Diamond, his mother and father-in-law, Kathryn and Alden Hanson. As a teenager, he was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. He was also a life member of the Chesty Puller Marine Corps League, a member of the VFW of Stow, the Ohio Rifle and Pistol Association, the NRA, the Portage-Summit Field and Stream Club and the United Methodist Church of Stow. Friends are invited to the Redmon Funeral Home for visitation Thursday 2 to 4 & 6 to 8 PM, where Rev. Scott Hayward will conduct service Friday 10 AM. Interment Northlawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Williams Syndrome Foundation, 570 Kirts Blvd., Ste. 223 Troy, MI 48084, Hope Homes Foundation Inc., 2300 Call Road, Stow, OH 44224 or The United Methodist Church of Stow, 4880 Fishcreek Road, Stow, OH 44224.

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John Kennedy at an event with wife, Jackie.

November 22, 1963, Dallas, Texas. President Kennedy was shot in his motorcade as he passed crowds of onlookers. The first shot struck him in the back of the neck.

The third and fatal shot hit Kennedy in the front of the head. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and charged with the murder. However, the actual assassins were never captured.

This was the first time that America had witnessed the assassination of a president live on television. The true details of the killing has never been told. Kennedy's funeral would take place over the next three days. The next day Oswald would also be shot and killed at the Dallas police department by nightclub owner, Jack Ruby.

Kennedy's casket would first be on view at the White House in Washington, D.C.

The casket was carried into the Capitol building.

It would then be moved to the U.S. Capitol building and would lie in state.

The service started with the widowed first lady, Jackie Kennedy approaching the casket with her children, John Jr. and Caroline Kennedy.

The crowds of citizens filed by to get a last glimpse of the casket.

After the viewing, pallbearers from all branches of the U.S. military were positioned. Jerry Diamond was one of them.

Kennedy's casket was carried outside and down the long steps of the Capitol.

The casket was followed by Jackie and Kennedy's brothers, Robert and Edward (Ted).

The casket was then loaded onto a caisson.

The family followed.

Perhaps, the most famous photograph taken that day was a video shot of Kennedy's young son, John Jr., (John-John), saluting his father's casket.

The trip to the cemetery.

Arriving at Arlington National Cemetery.

Kennedy's original grave. My parents and I visited this site in the summer of 1964.

SIDENOTE:

On our visit to the Kennedy graves in 1964, I remember a young boy around the age of eight years old who wanted to take a picture with his mother's camera. She handed it to him and he walked around to get a better angle and dropped the camera on the cement walkway. His mother was very upset as the camera was broken now and she couldn't use it.

My father, who had just bought a new Polaroid camera for the trip said that he would take a photo of the mother and son at the gravesite. His camera was the first that took photos in 10-seconds so she got the picture right away. She was happy about that and thanked him.

The Kennedy graves today. Jackie is now buried with her husband.

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