Senator Ted Kennedy passes away

[Maj Daniel Sauerwein]

Just found out on on television that MA Sen. Ted Kennedy, the younger brother of JFK, passed away late Tuesday night from brain cancer. Regardless of what you think about his political views and positions, America has lost a major figure in its political history. He passed away at his vacation home. Let's keep the Kennedy family in our prayers.

[flyguy06]

That is definantly sad news. Him and his family were icons during a troubled period in Americas history. Thoughts and prayers to the family

[Airrace]

A truly sad day for all of us. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family.

[Angus]

Just found out on on television that MA Sen. Ted Kennedy, the younger brother of JFK, passed away late Tuesday night from brain cancer. Regardless of what you think about his political views and positions, America has lost a major figure in its political history. He passed away at his vacation home. Let's keep the Kennedy family in our prayers.

Most of what you said is correct.  However he WAS NOT at his vacation home.  He lived at the Kennedy Compond in Hyannis. 

[Spike]

Tough month for that family. 

[arajca]

Received from the NTC:

UNCLASSIFIED//

OTTUZYUW RHSSXYZ0001 2382240-UUUU--RHSSSUU.
ZNR UUUUU
O 262247Z AUG 09
FM SECDEF
TO AL ALDODACT
INFO SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
DA PENTAGON TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SECDEF
BT
UNCLAS
SUBJ:HALF-STAFFING OF THE NATIONAL FLAG
ALDODACT 07/09
ADDRESSEES PASS TO ALL SUBORDINATE COMMANDS
REF/A/GENADMIN/261119Z AUG 09//
REF/B/DOC/PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION 26 AUG 09//
NARR/REF A DIRECTED HALF-STAFFING OF THE NATIONAL FLAG BEGINNING 26
AUG 09 THROUGH 27 AUG 09.  REF B IS PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION
HONORING DEATH OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY.//
1.  REF A DIRECTED HALF-STAFFING OF THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES
BEGINNING 26 AUG 09 THROUGH 27 AUG 09 IN HONOR OF SENATOR EDWARD M.
KENNEDY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
2.  PER REF B, AS A MARK OF RESPECT FOR THE MEMORY OF SENATOR EDWARD
M. KENNEDY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS DIRECTED THAT THE
FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES SHALL BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF UNTIL SUNSET
ON 30 AUG 09.  THE PRESIDENT HAS ALSO DIRECTED THAT THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES SHALL BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF UNTIL SUNSET ON THE DAY
OF SENATOR KENNEDY?S INTERMENT.
3.  THE FLAG SHALL BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF ON ALL DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE BUILDINGS, GROUNDS AND NAVAL VESSELS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED
STATES AND ABROAD.
BT
#0001
NNNN

[IceNine]

It was certainly an interesting life he led.  I wish I had his gumption. 

From what I'm hearing it appears that he cheated an early exodus at least twice once in a plane crash, and once in a tragic car accident.  That would have been all 4 Kennedy boys dying from other than natural causes.  They also mentioned that he lived in chronic back pain  for over 40 years yet you can see none of that as he spoke and threw his arms in the air and such.  I guess that speaks to his passion.


Any idea why they called him "Ted" instead of Ed?

[flyguy06]

The Kennedy family stood up for Civil Rights in the 60's and for that I think he is an icon of our time. he wasnt afraid to stand up for what was right.

[AlphaSigOU]

Any idea why they called him "Ted" instead of Ed?

It's not uncommon for 'Ted' to be used as a nickname for someone named Edward.

[Pumbaa]

He propagated illegal immigration, draconian gun control, and more recently, government run health care.  Why are any patriotic Americans mourning?

[Trung Si Ma]

...he wasnt afraid to stand up for what was right.

Unless it was his marriage vows or the laws about leaving the scene of an accident or the precepts of his religon

[EMT-83]

He propagated illegal immigration, draconian gun control, and more recently, government run health care.  Why are any patriotic Americans mourning?

Because most Americans have poor memory, and the press an even shorter attention span.

[Cecil DP]

After watching several of the News Shows, I think the media has an opinion that the senatorial seat is a Kennedy birthright. Joe Kennedy says he's not running but lets see in a few days.

[DogCollar]

He propagated illegal immigration, draconian gun control, and more recently, government run health care.  Why are any patriotic Americans mourning?

Because, not all patriotic Americans are conservatives.

[ricks]

He propagated illegal immigration, draconian gun control, and more recently, government run health care.  Why are any patriotic Americans mourning?

Because, not all patriotic Americans are conservatives.

Amen!

[Pylon]

He propagated illegal immigration, draconian gun control, and more recently, government run health care.  Why are any patriotic Americans mourning?

Keep the politics of either side out of the discussion.  Only warning.

[Spike]

How long is a flag flown at half staff for a deceased Senator??

Why are US Flags in States other than where the Government Official is from flown at half staff (at state institutions primarily, I understand federal installations and buildings)??

I only ask because the local elementary school took down the State flag to lower the US Flag.  It was an oversight I think on the part of the school leadership, but I did not think local schools were "Federal institutions or property".   

[davedove]

How long is a flag flown at half staff for a deceased Senator??

Why are US Flags in States other than where the Government Official is from flown at half staff (at state institutions primarily, I understand federal installations and buildings)??

I only ask because the local elementary school took down the State flag to lower the US Flag.  It was an oversight I think on the part of the school leadership, but I did not think local schools were "Federal institutions or property".

For members of Congress (Senate or House), it is lowered the day of death and the following day.

I can't answer the rest of it.

[Cobra1597]

I'd like to remind people that on a website where we do represent ourselves as members of CAP, there is some amount of decorum and civility we should try and maintain.

Ignoring politics for a moment, Senator Kennedy served the people of his state by representing them for nearly 5 decades, and he was a member of the US Army, a fellow man in uniform. He lived through much family tragedy, losing one brother in World War II, and seeing his other two fall to assassin's bullets. He saw his nephew die in a plane crash. Despite all of this, he forged ahead, serving in the senate and fighting strongly for ideals he thought were right. He continued that fight right to the very end, despite battling a terrible cancer that eventually killed him. These things are all true whether you agreed with every vote he made or not.

We should respect that. Certainly while behaving as members of CAP, we should be holding to that, as respect is one of our core values.

[Spike]

^ His sister also died in a plane crash shortly after WW2.  He too walked away from a terrible plane crash that should have killed him.  I think I read he was in a body cast for almost 7 months.