Family bids farewell to John Kennedy with simple service

Inside a small and simple 350 seat church, the family of John Kennedy jnr bade farewell yesterday to a young man whom many Americans…

Inside a small and simple 350 seat church, the family of John Kennedy jnr bade farewell yesterday to a young man whom many Americans had hoped would someday, somehow, assume the mantle of his famous father's political promise.

The memorial service for Mr Kennedy (38), son of President John FitzGerald Kennedy, began at the Church of St Thomas More on Manhattan's Upper East Side just after 11 a.m. The 126-year church, an episcopalian church until 50 years ago, resembles an English country church, with wooden floors and stone pillars, stained glass, and almost devoid of gold or ornament.

White roses and white lilys adorned the church for what the family called a "celebratory service". This was the place where Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis would frequently stop in for weekday Mass after her morning jogs around Central Park, and it was the place where Mr Kennedy's sister Ms Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg insisted this service be held, instead of larger quarters.

Other family members, including Senator Ted Kennedy, had argued for a location that would accommodate more people, but Ms Kennedy Schlossberg was adamant and her wishes were respected.

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President Clinton, the First Lady Mrs Hillary Clinton, and their daughter Chelsea boarded Air Force One carrying three identical photo albums that they planned to present as gifts to Senator Kennedy, Ms Kennedy Schlossberg, and the Bessette family.

The cause of the air crash which killed Mr John Kennedy, his wife Ms Caroline Bessette Kennedy and her sister Ms Lauren Bessette last Friday off the coast of Massachusetts is under investigation.

Ms Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a daughter of Mr Robert Kennedy and Lieut-Gov of Maryland, accompanied the Clintons. Among those attending the invitation-only service were US Senators Christopher Dodd and John Kerry, former boxer Muhammed Ali, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver, who is a cousin to Mr Kennedy, Jann Wenner, publisher of Rolling Stone magazine, and a group of men closely associated with President Kennedy's administration, including his speech writer Mr Ted Sorenson, and economist Mr John Kenneth Galbraith.

Senator Ted Kennedy gave a 10-minute eulogy, and a choir sang Amazing Grace.

A five block area around the church was sealed off by US Secret Service agents several hours before the service started. On a street of high-rise apartment buildings, the Secret Service, concerned for President Clinton's safety, requested residents to seal their windows and close their windows blinds to help with security. Other precautions taken included the sealing of man-hole covers on the street.

Beyond the police barricades, thousands gathered hoping to catch a glimpse of the mourners. One, Ms Patty Abalon, a teacher, said she had taken the day off from work just to be there, even though there was little chance she would see anything.

A death that went to the heart of a nation: page 11; obituary page 18