Vern & Letha were living in East Moline, IL while Vern worked on the Port Byron Telephone Company Rebuild.
On Sunday, October 25th of 1964 Vern and Letha drove to Cedar Rapids, Iowa and witnessed the arrival of four planes, a Lockheed C-121 Constellation Columbine carrying the official funeral party.
Two more planes landed The C-130 Military Transport Service plane carrying the Presidents coffin,
and another the body bearers and color guard .