President John F. Kennedy Dedication of U.S. Highway 259 - October 29, 1961 - Memorial

The memorial consists of a multi-tier reddish-brown granite monument, within a low rock wall with entry gates on 3 sides, and concrete walkways leading from the entry points to the monument, in the form of a cross. Adjacent to the monument, outside the wall, to the south, are a raised marker (sign) with the name of the memorial, and a bit further south is a tall flagpole flying the American Flag. A bronze plaque, mounted on a small reddish-brown granite slab is imbedded in the ground outside the central (east) entrance. It is inscribed: KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS GIFT THIS MONUMENT COMMEMORATING VISIT OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY TO BIG CEDAR WAS ERECTED UNDER AUSPICES OF KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS WHO DEEDED SHAFT AND LAND TO OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY OCTOBER 30, 1966. - OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1966 - The monument itself is placed along the west wall of the enclosure in front of a large tree, which stands outside the wall. Surrounding the enclosure are evergreen bushes. The monument rests on an imbedded concrete footing and a horizontal reddish-brown granite slab, which serves as a 1st tier. All granite features of the monument are of the same matching color. The principal tall center pillar of the monument features the following inscriptions, medallions and symbols (top to bottom): On a narrow inlaid gray granite banner is inscribed: IN MEMORIAM Next under is a bronze medallion insert featuring the raised image of President Kennedy Following is etched: JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY 1917-1963 Then, the symbol of the Knights of Columbus is etched At the bottom, on a narrow inlaid gray granite banner, is inscribed: DEDICATION OF HIGHWAY 259 OCTOBER 29, 1961 To the left and right of the central pillar are 4 granite blocks on either side. The lower 2 rectangular blocks rest on the 1st tier horizontal slab, and forms a 2nd tier. Those blocks are topped by 2 square blocks in “stair-step” fashion, which forms a 3rd tier. On the left rectangular block is inscribed, on an inlaid gray granite panel, the quotation: “ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU; ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY.” On the right rectangular block is inscribed, on an inlaid gray granite panel: PRESENTED AS A MEMORIAL TO AN ILLUSTRIOUS AND DEDICATED AMERICAN BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA. Along the crossing walkway, leading to the monument, small ground-mounted American Flags have been placed. A large raised memorial marker is placed adjacent to the monument enclosure, between the enclosure and flagpole, and reads: PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY DEDICATED US-259 OCTOBER 29, 1961 MEMORIAL Also adjacent to the enclosure and close by the memorial marker, is a flagpole flying the American Flag. At the base is a bronze plaque mounted on concrete with the inscription: U.S. HIGHWAY 259 OCTOBER 29, 1961 WHILE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES JOHN F. KENNEDY GAVE THE DEDICATORY ADDRESS AT THIS SITE. HE WAS A GUEST OF SENATOR ROBERT S. KERR WHO HAS LED THE WAY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIS NATIVE STATE OF OKLAHOMA. “LAND WOOD WATER SPACE” (Note: John Fitzgerald Kennedy was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He served as commander of a patrol torpedo boat (PT-109) in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during the war. He served as Senator of the State of Massachusetts, before his election in 1960 as the 35th President of the United States. In his capacity as President, he served as Commander in Chief of all U.S. military forces from 1961-1963. He was assassinated in 1963.) (Note: Robert Samuel Kerr was a U.S. Army veteran of World War I. He served as a Second Lieutenant with the 1st Field Artillery, including overseas in Europe, for some 9 months, during the period 1917-1919. He then served with the Oklahoma National Guard from 1921-1929, advancing to the rank of Major. He was also a member of the American Legion. He served as the 12th Governor of the State of Oklahoma from 1943-1947, and a U.S. Senator from Oklahoma from 1949-1963. His senatorial slogan was “Land, Wood and Water,” and he chaired the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences from 1961-1963.