In a four-part series, Preservation Arlington looks back at the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which had a major impact on Arlingtonians, and all Americans, and which culminated in Kennedy’s funeral, which indelibly changed the face of Arlington National Cemetery.

For this second piece, Arlington resident Laura Hvezdos shares a remarkable letter that her father, Michael Stephen Hvezdos, wrote on November 23, 1963, about learning the news at the Pentagon that the president had been shot. But first, she tells us a little about her distinguished father, her family, and the place she calls home.

My father, Michael Stephen Hvezdos, was a career Army man with 20 years of service when he retired at the rank of Major. He had been born and raised in Texas, and after his military service, he went back to his hometown of Longview, Texas, where he became an editor for the local newspaper and a political journalist until he passed away in 2003. At the time of this letter, he was stationed at Fort Myer here in Arlington, after having served a tour in Korea. His rank at the time was, I believe, 2nd Lieutenant. He worked for the Personnel Management Office/Adjutant General at the Pentagon.

I believe my father wrote this letter to his mother, who lived in Texas. When my father passed away, I found his old Army trunk, and in it were all the records, photos, and various memorabilia of his time served in the military. I had never seen these things before. My dad was a very private man and did not talk much about his job in the Army other than to say that his work was classified. I also have several photo albums and yearbooks that my dad created during his tours in Korea and Vietnam. He served with the Big Red One too (the 1st Infantry Division).

My grandmother held on to anything and everything my dad sent her. So, my theory is she must have given the letter back to him at some point.

My mother, Georgia Rae Hvezdos, was born in West Virginia, but raised in Arlington. She and all her siblings are Stratford and Washington-Lee alumni. She was a waitress at the Hot Shoppe in Rosslyn. My dad used to go there for dinner all the time and would request to sit in her section. He was very smitten with her and told his fellow Army buddies he was going to marry her. And that’s what he did. Shortly after they married, he was sent to San Antonio, Texas, where I was born, and then we were off to Europe for the next 5-plus years. We returned home to Arlington.

My loyalties are split: I was born in Texas, but raised in Arlington. Whenever my dad was transferred to a new state or country, we always came back to Arlington afterwards. It was and is our home.