Senator Kennedy fought for the Cape

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Sen. Kennedy fought for the Cape

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Cape Cod and its best neighbor

Hyannis is a summer resort community of Cape Cod south of Boston.  It is where my family spent summers for as long as I can remember and many are full time residents today. I can recall when it was a sleepy community that woke up just after Memorial Day and fell back to sleep after Labor Day. The Cape today is still a very quaint place with grey weathering cedar-shingled houses with white or blue trim and roses climbing up terraces. People enjoying muffins or pancakes in their favorite restaurant in the morning reading the paper or enjoying fish and chips at one of the local restaurants with seagulls flying around in circles waiting to snatch a french fry. 
 
Today Hyannis is a year round community. A beautification project has completely revitalized Lewis Bay Harbor and Main Street. The project continues with The Hyannis Gateway Landscape Project creating an attractive corridor to the community. Restaurants, cafes and small shops offer locals and tourists fried clams, clam chowder, lobster, saltwater taffey, fudge and typical New England articles. The Melody Tent attracts international talent to entertain visitors all summer long. Flea markets, antique shops, sailing and beaches make holidays at the Cape varied and fun. Sports fishing for white marlin, yellow fin tuna, giant blue fin tuna, striped bass, bluefish, and blue marlin draw sports fishermen and women to enter exciting fishing tournaments.

Our holidays at the Cape have always been about family and friends spending hours fishing, clam digging, loberstering, sailing and cooking our catch of the day. There are times when we would try to grow or catch everything we ate during the weekends. We often sail to Martha’s Vineyard and take long bike rides around the island or pass summer days at the beach. The Cape is a homey place with the scent of salt water in the air, storms coming in off the water from time to time, waking up to sea gulls screeching and salty fog working its way out of the early mornings slowly giving way to the sun.

Sunday mornings our family would attend the 9 AM mass at St. Francis church. I remember seeing Ted, John and Bobby Kennedy sitting in the back of the church when John Kennedy was a Senator. The Kennedy women would sit in the front rows with the children. Always when I think of these Sunday mornings I remember John Kennedy’s intense blue eyes. Later when he became President people crowded the streets around the church to see President Kennedy and Jackie exit the church. The Kennedy women would go shopping in the local market with many baskets lined up, as it took quite a lot of food to feed the gathering of family at the compound during the summer months. They went about their business around town like everyone else.

The Kennedy’s are part of the summer scene and made important contributions to maintaining the integrity and quaintness of "Old Cape Cod" that we enjoy today. It is not only their summer retreat but also a family home where many important events have taken center stage and their family gathering place. It is to their credit that the Cape still maintains that same atmosphere even though it draws many famous people and tourists who just simply mingle in with the rest of the locals.

John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum is a focal point on Main Street Hyannis. Here people from all over the world visit and view the many exhibitions showing the life and contributions of the Kennedy family. But it is Ted Kennedy that people on the Cape will remember who took a direct roll in many important decisions that brought prosperity and benefits to Cape Cod. His contributions in education, health, and the environment is what he will be remembered and admired for by the locals. He will always be known as the Cape’s best neighbor and a beloved Cape Codder.

Hyannis said their last good bye's to Ted Kennedy as they watched his mororcade depart Hyannisport for his last trip to Washington DC.