It was 50 years ago today that President John F. Kennedy was shot by a lone gunman while slowly cruising the streets of Dallas.

It’s hard to live in Dallas and not be reminded of this fact almost daily.

There’s even an X on Elm street in the exact spot where it happened.

(Fans of the Cavender Diary will remember that the Texas Theater where Oswald was captured and the famous “Backyard Rifle” potos taken by Marina Oswald at 214 Neely st both took place just blocks from our house)

Kennedy’s funeral was held 2 days later in Washington, DC.

To pay respect, 800,000 Americans lined the D.C. streets to watch the coffin’s procession…

…and the caparisoned horse with boots facing backwards in the saddle.

“The quietest day in American history. You couldn’t hear a sound except for hooves cloping, weeping, and the nostril sounds of the horses breathing.”

(photo via Time/Life)