http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/41002.page Public Action
Eventually, Congress lowered the voting age to 18 and our efforts, even if successful, would have been for naught. The Nebraska age of majority, though, remains at 19; I like to think of that as a major victory for young people and a reflection of reason prevailing in those tumultuous times.

Dave Piester, Lincoln]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1639420 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1639420 GMT One day some Nixon backers invaded the KC Hall (Kennedy HQ) including one of the hottest girls in school. It was my big chance to talk to her. We agreed that Bobby was better looking than Tricky Dick. That's all I had.
On the day of RFK's visit, Steve and I passed out the signs we made. As the train pulled into place, Steve turned to me and said, "This is the most exciting day of my life." Sadly, like Kennedy, Steve wouldn't have many days left. He was killed in a car-train accident later that year.
Like so many, I look back wondering what might have been had Kennedy lived. I'm convinced he would've won the nomination and defeated Nixon. The mind reels how history would have been so much different.

Rick Wigington
Lincoln ]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1394621 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1394621 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1283420 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1283420 GMT here.

I have also emailed the link to you.

Thank you very much for your interaction. ]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1127214 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1127214 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1123425 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1123425 GMT It was the beginning months of 1968 and I still see my father as he watched LBJ announce he was not running for a second presidential term to Dad watching the dramatic news coverage of Bobby’s’ assassination in California.
I watched my fathers’ emotion go from hope to despair in less then six months.
As I watched the film "68" The Year Nebraska Mattered I cried to see film of my father and hear his voice after 40 years. It was an emotional roller coaster to watch as I remembered it was for everyone to live through that year.
Bobby Kennedy made a point of walking through the campaign headquarters and meeting us all. Bobby’s eyes were always in constant motion searching faces and crowds unless he was speaking directly to you. I always thought he was so brave going into crowds of people who wanted desperately to shake his hand and touch him with out protection so soon after the loss of his brother.
When Hubert Humphrey came in to the hotel lobby and warmly greeted my father I was surprised my dad knew him as a friend.
I did not know that Robert Kennedy would die and I did not know my Dad would die but for almost six months I spent every day working with my father, talking to him on the phone when a call from a Kennedy, Lawford or Smith came into the switch board.
I am so grateful to have played a part in history and have all that time with my father.

]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1114215 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1114215 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1111235 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1111235 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1108829 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1108829 GMT I had the opportunity to visit with Frank Morrison in his last days and the stories he shared now make sense. The most disturbing one was sharing the fact that he was minutes away fromm quarantining the WHOLE state during the Cuban Missile Crisis. That would have included humans AND cattle. The effects of the testing in Nevada were NOT good.

REUNION ‘98



Was it ’68 or was it ’98?

It seemed just like yesterday.

We came from Colorado, Montana, Omaha and Grand Island, all six of us!

It was almost like that first day in ’64,

Will I know anyone? Who will be my friend? What will it be like? Will I know anyone?



Like those days in ’64, 68, and 98,

There were still those constants….fears and baggage’s,

Of weight, hair, color of or even lack of,

death and even brushes with death,

Kids, spouses, and even lack of kids and spouses,

success, accomplishments and memories of……………………………….



The State Basketball game in Lincoln, Fr. Frank’s jubliliation at Rocky’s last victory shot,

“Louie-Louie” and the stage jute box, the joint effort cleaning Kristy’s yard after the party,

Coach Northrup’s vow to make it a .500 season, Luke’s cabin party….the fish….the river..

the Birth film, Vance, the monitor, and the party,

Marcia….Marcia….Marcia…how sad,

Our nick names, or maybe their nick names. How funny, but also how sad and regretful for the pain and scares they left….we’re sorry!

The last parties and who ever thought of 98?

The ‘crisis’ and ‘transition’ we were all in….women’s rights or the lack of, war, the priests and nuns, their roles, our identity, our roles, their identity???

Kristi’s sit-down strike and each and everyone of you!

You better believe it, we went down the list, thinking, remembering and basically wishing you were there.

For some, it may have been just a day, a week, a month, a year, and even four, but one fact remains that if you are around forty plus and under fifty, attended Central Catholic with the Class of ’68,

You were Great and ARE Great!

In little ways and probably so much more than we realize, we touched and helped shape each other for a future we could not have imagined.

At the time, we were boys and girls, powerful and bold, shy and timid, at least of the outside, and yet not knowing it, but scared, afraid and maybe even hurt on the inside, going to school, but …wanting a home!

Today, we are men and women, sometimes still powerful, bold, shy and timid, but now, perhaps more tempered, balanced, wiser, loving, caring, forgiving and mature.

Because time has passed, God has smiled.

Back then, we didn’t realize we needed each other to grow.

Today, we need each other to forgive and heal the past, to release the grip, to open the fist.

Please come share, laugh, hope, and dream with us in ’99.

7/98 After the usual ‘reunion reluctancy’, I decided to go and had a wonderful time. I left with a sense of gratitude, thankful for the few that came and the whole class, the locals that put it together and expectant about the next one. So many thoughts were going through my mind on my trip back to Omaha that night that at 3:30 AM, I wrote this as a sort of “invitation to the next one.”

3/08 I hope we have a great turnout for the 40th in June. Ya’ all come now!

Randy Lukasiewicz

4670 William St. Omaha,Ne. 68106

402-657-9150

kazumrl@cox.net


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To return to the '68: The Year Nebraska Mattered website, click here.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1082622 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/netnebraska/posts/list/1021010.page#1082622 GMT