By Gjekë Gjonlekaj / New York
Memorie.al / For more than a century, Albanians have enjoyed extraordinary love and respect for the United States of America. They honor this country for its prosperity, freedom, and democracy. However, a part of the Albanians’ respect for America is tied to the special personalities of this society. The connections of Albanians with American leaders are longstanding. Serious friendship with high-ranking American personalities began with President Theodore Roosevelt and continues without interruption, to this very day. My generation, born after the Second World War, enjoyed some material goods from the United States.
The American government and its Red Cross sent various food items to elementary schools. American food made school even more beloved than usual. I will never forget the American bread, milk, and cheese. In fact, on the bags of wheat flour, it was written in large letters “MADE IN USA”. This aid program was started by President Truman’s Administration and continued as such until the time of President Kennedy.
In my hometown, more was said about American presidents than about other world leaders. They had won the sympathy of the peoples of the Balkans. Standing out among them was John F. Kennedy. The country’s press wrote a great deal about this renowned leader. Kennedy promised a lot for oppressed and poor peoples.
He had highlighted these promises during his presidential inaugural address on January 20, 1961. He proved to be a far-sighted, multi-dimensional leader. Intellectuals, citizens, and peasants were enthusiastic about the successes of this brilliant politician.
President Kennedy was very present on the front pages of the Slavic press and the Albanian press of Kosovo, especially during the Cuban crisis. This imposing figure won over all readers.
At that time, he was the most intelligent and elegant leader in the world. In a short time in this office, he became known and beloved by all of humanity. He was an excellent orator and had a characteristic voice.
His manner of speaking was different from others. Enslaved Albanians and those under the Stalinist dictatorship saw John Kennedy as a savior. In a short time, he became the most beloved political figure in the world.
His portraits held the primary place in many reception rooms in my hometown, even after his death. We grew up with this star of light, and the extinguishing of this meteor half a century ago was like an apocalypse.
We had also learned about the deeds of this titan from the Voice of America. Serious journalists say that some events and moments are so impressive that they are never forgotten. That is what happened with the tragic moment of John F. Kennedy. Most of us remember that instant and that fateful day when humanity lost this knight, this champion of freedom and democracy.
I read the news of the tragic assassination of John F. Kennedy in the Kosovo newspaper “Rilindja”, which in large letters wrote about this tragic event of global proportions. “Rilindja” had prepared a special edition for this great death. Radio-Prishtina broadcast news about this tragic loss all day long. So did the country’s television network.
In fact, the funeral ceremony was broadcast live by the European television channel “Eurovision.” Gjakova at that time had only a few television sets. But for the funeral ceremony of John Kennedy, they opened the city’s main halls. Everyone, citizens and peasants from the districts of Gjakova, flocked to watch this historic ceremony.
In the streets and everywhere, a true silence reigned. They spoke with emotion. Those days I noticed Kosovo’s love for America and its President, John Kennedy. I told this truth to American diplomats at the Dayton Conference in November 1995.
Kosovo had great hopes in America and its politicians. In the last century, Boston was the capital of Albanians in America, the birthplace of the Kennedy family generation after generation. Albanian-Americans from Boston had friendships with many sons and daughters of this noble family.
Fan Noli had been a classmate at Harvard University with President John Kennedy’s father, Joseph Kennedy. Albanians in Boston, especially Anthony Athanas, had close ties with the Kennedy brothers. In his famous venue “Pier 4”, they had organized solemn receptions and political campaigns.
President Kennedy had visited this renowned venue many times. After his death, Anthony Athanas placed Kennedy’s bust at the main entrance of “Pier 4”. The Kennedy brothers understood the sufferings of Albanians because their own Irish ancestors had suffered under English occupation. John Kennedy had reassured Albanians against Vorio-Epirote threats. He was one of the most anti-communist presidents in the Western world.
John Kennedy had expedited the immigration to the United States of anti-communist Albanians from refugee camps in Italy. This was done through the intervention of Ernest Koliqi with the Holy See. President Kennedy and Pope John XXIII had discussed this matter during his visit to the Vatican.
Kennedy’s resoluteness in the Cuban nuclear missile crisis and his speech near the Berlin Wall were two heroic anti-communist acts. Apart from Fidel Castro and Enver Hoxha, all the leaders of the world had expressed pain and restraint regarding his death. Fidel Castro and Enver Hoxha had made public their joy at the tragic death of this American president, naturally because they were afraid of his anti-communist policies.
These days, more than ever, there is talk about the communist conspiracy for his assassination, just as had happened with the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II. Senator Edward Kennedy and Congressman Joseph Kennedy Jr. had repeatedly voted for resolutions in support of Kosovo.
Edward Kennedy was very dear to Mother Teresa. He had even visited her in Calcutta. After the fall of the dictatorship in Albania, Mrs. Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert Kennedy, visited that country and sent medicines and medical equipment there.
About Ethel Kennedy’s trip to Albania, her son Joseph Kennedy spoke during a visit of Adem Demaçi to Congress, invited by Senator Robert Dole. Even the Albanian Democratic deputy from Malësia e Madhe, the late Dodë Kaçaj, had forged a friendship with Patrick, Robert Kennedy’s son, during a visit to Albania.
Patrick had invited Mr. Kaçaj for a visit to Boston. Ever since the Second World War until recently, this family has been followed by many tragedies. The latest and most severe was the tragedy of young John Kennedy Jr. with his wife and sister-in-law, while flying a plane to a family wedding in Massachusetts. This was the second greatest loss in this family, and I personally deeply felt his tragedy.
I went to the building where he had lived and placed a bouquet of flowers at the entrance of that building in Manhattan. I had only seen him once on the city subway near the Brooklyn Bridge. He was very calm and modest. Gjergj Martini Gjelaj from our Malësia had worked in the building where John and his mother Jacqueline Kennedy lived.
Gjergji told many stories about John and Jacqueline. The sudden death of this scion of the Kennedy Dynasty shocked America, as it was expected that one day he too could be a figure of importance to the United States. This country showed great respect even for the death of Jacqueline Kennedy. She had been the most beautiful and elegant First Lady in the history of the United States.
Jacqueline Kennedy had changed the interior appearance of the White House and many of America’s historic buildings. Albanian-Americans deeply felt the tragic assassination of John F. Kennedy. They gathered in front of religious and social centers to honor this great leader.
On Sunday, November 24, 1963, at St. George’s Cathedral in Boston, Monsignor Noli had said a Mass and delivered a speech in memory of John Kennedy. Noli, being a poet, dedicated this elegy:
“Blessed is, O soul, the road
That you follow today.
A place of peace and love,
Is prepared for you up there.”
The well-known publicist, former journalist for the Voice of America, the late Xhevat Kallajxhi, had published in 1980 a monograph in the Albanian language about John Kennedy. It is a modest work from which the Albanian reader learns a great deal about this renowned American president.
More is said about John Kennedy than about any other American president. His voice is heard every day. He is like a mythological figure of ancient times. More than 40,000 different works have been published about John Kennedy. He is the prophet of our era.
His grave and the eternal flame at Arlington Cemetery are visited every day by thousands of Americans and foreigners. During the time I worked in Washington, I visited this historic grave several times.
In my soul, to this very day, the sweet sound of his wonderful voice resounds. His magnificent figure shines for me like those of biblical personalities. We all learned something from him. May he shed light and peace in the life beyond! / Memorie.al
