Jackie Kennedy Onasis 

"I want to live my life not record it", spoken by a true American heroine. In the spirit of this week marking the 50th anniversary of the gruesome murder of JFK, I want to focus on a women who was brave for the whole country a time of need. Jackie Kennedy was born to a upper class family, groomed to be the perfect wife from a young age. She met her future husband on a family vacation to Nantucket. From the beginning she was smitten with John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Life in the White House was not always easy, with rumors surrounding her husbands extra marital affairs, but that never stopped Jackie from being the perfect first lady. She was a fashion forward style icon for the female population. She inspired a nation of women to begin wearing the "pillbox" hat. She was the perfect mother to two adorable children. During a trip to Dallas her life would tragically change forever. She and her husband, John, were supposed to appear in a parade thrown in their honor. Many dedicated Americans came out to see their President and First Lady. During the parade route shots rang out and the President was shot in the head. He was rushed to a local hospital but it was unfortunately to late, and he perished. Jackie became a beacon of hope during that tragic time. She showed strength and bravery to an entire nation. Standing on Air Force One, she stood next to the Vice President Johnson, as he took the oath of office. Jackie was still dressed in the blood soaked suit and pillbox hat she had worn to the parade. As the days after her husbands assassination occurred, she remained strong at her husbands funeral. She held it together for her children, family, and ultimately a nation who had not known such an assault since the assassination of Lincoln. That was not the last tragedy that Jackie would ever face, her brother in law Bobby Kennedy was killed on his campaign tour, and then her son was killed when his private plane went down. Called the "Kennedy Curse" by many, Jackie still remained a pillar of strength until her death in May 1994. Her legacy is one of style, grace, strength and pill box hats. She will forever be remembered as a part of American culture.