Extracted from the announcement "Gifford/JFK-In Production" dated 3/01/08, which featured a note from Paul Merritt '64. (Send comments or memories to Clifford Larkins).
I received a number of messages from choir members who remembered singing the JFK Composition by Mr. Norman Gifford, and Paul Merritt's '64 message below exemplifies their responses:
Clifford, I believe that the Choir that I was in 1963-64 was the first to perform Mr. Gifford’s JFK composition. I remember he and Mr. Sturdevant bringing it to us brand new, and I think the first time we sang it was at an outdoor assembly in front of the high school. They held a memorial assembly in honor of President Kennedy after he was assassinated and we sang Mr. Gifford’s song at that assembly. It was really something to see because Glendale was jammed with traffic and the surrounding community participated. I don't remember if we recorded that performance, but I do remember we were on an accelerated learning curve to prepare for it and "qualifying" was not easy. I remember how beautiful it was, it brought us to tears. Mr. Gifford, who played so beautifully and passionately, had tears streaming down his face. Again I’m willing to bet that may be that [1964] choir (performing on the reel-to-reel tape).
Paul Merritt '64.