At last the location of the Official American Flag that flew over The White House on the Day that President John F. Kennedy was Assassinated has been officially located. Over 25 years ago, it was presented to The Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection AKA The American Heritage Collection, by the White House Doorman - Preston Bruce. Impeccable Provenance accompanies this November 22, 1963 Official American Assassination Flag - An Historic American Relic of the Highest Magnitude.
BELOW IS THE OFFICIAL MOURNING FLAG OF NOVEMBER 22, 1963 - AS REMOVED BY THE WHITE HOUSE DOORMAN - PRESTON BRUCE
In the Historic Photograph featured below is Preston Bruce, White House Doorman, who served at The Executive Mansion from 1953 to 1977. In the capacity of White House Doorman, Mr. Bruce, (the Epitome of what a Gentleman is), was in close proximity to the Oval Office while he served Presidents - Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon & Ford.
WHITE HOUSE DOORMAN PRESTON BRUCE IN FRONT OF EXECUTIVE MANSION MANTLE - THIS PHOTOGRAPH HAS BEEN APPROPRIATELY INSCRIBED FOR RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX
The elegant Preston Bruce is shown standing, dressed in his Tuxedo, in front of a Marble Mantle in The White House; in a photograph which he has personally inscribed to Raleigh DeGeer Amyx. The Official Mourning Flag that flew over the White House - and at Half-Staff - that dreaded November Day is approximately 5' x 9.5'.
THE OFFICIAL MOURNING FLAG - AT HALF-STAFF - THAT FLEW OVER THE WHITE HOUSE ON NOVEMBER 22, 1963
We also show the Official American Mourning Flag as it flies directly above The White House on November 22, 1963. This Flag actually flew at Half-Staff, above The White House, from November 19th to December 8, 1963. This would have covered part of the Official Mourning Period of 30 Days for President John F. Kennedy...... and there was only one other Official Flag that flew over The Executive Mansion continuously during the 30 Day Official Mourning Period. The second Official Flag is thought to be in the John F. Kennedy Library as Mr. Bruce believed that the second one was presented to the President's Widow, Jacqueline B. Kennedy. Preston Bruce was also, with others, standing behind the Kennedy Family at Arlington National Cemetery on November 25th 1963 - The Day that The President was laid to rest. Of course, Mr. Bruce was also one of the Kennedy Family Invited Attendees at the Funeral Service of The President at St. Matthews Cathedral earlier that Dreadful Day.
RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX - HISTORIAN & COLLECTOR - WITH PRESTON BRUCE AT TIME OF JFK OFFICIAL FLAG PRESENTATION
Raleigh DeGeer Amyx is also shown above, with Preston Bruce in 1983, as he was presented The Official White House Flag of November 22, 1963. Mr. Bruce stated that following the Assassination of The President other members of the Kennedy family received a so-called "Official Flag" that was actually run up and down another flagpole, at another location at The White House. However, they would in no way have the early White House Documentation that accompanies this Official Flag. There is also another Special piece of White House Documentation that is not being shared here.
HISTORIC LETTER OF IMPECCABLE PROVENANCE - WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL MOURNING FLAG OF NOVEMBER 22, 1963 - FROM WHITE HOUSE DOORMAN PRESTON BRUCE TO HISTORIAN & COLLECTOR RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX
In the detailed full-page Letter of Provenance, addressed to Raleigh DeGeer Amyx, after Amyx and Mr. Bruce developed a close relationship, Preston Bruce states, in complete detail, many important facts of pertinent History. Mr. Bruce explains his relationship with the President as well as specifics about the above Official White House Mourning Flag. Preston Bruce describes the Mourning Flag as faded some and torn at the corners. Further, he states that he had written in ink on the White House Flag canvas edge ......" Preston Bruce, White House Doorman.... November 19, 63 - Rec. Dec. 8/63"......the exact dates this Official Mourning Flag flew over The White House. Also, Mr. Bruce wrote.... "Preston Bruce--White House Doorman, 53 - 77 (White House Service Years of Mr. Bruce), 19th NOV. 63 -- J.F.K."...... At the moment the above Official Assassination Flag was dropped to half-staff, following the sudden radio announcement of the Death of The President, Mr. Amyx was standing on the sidewalk outside The White House. He stood staring straight at the American Flag, as it was sadly lowered to half-staff, as well as directly at the Executive Mansion. Limousines began to turn into the White House front gate.....arriving from Congressional Leadership Offices. Many sad days would follow.....far too extreme and painful to adequately describe within this detailed text.
PRESTON BRUCE - WHITE HOUSE DOORMAN - WITH OFFICIAL MOURNING FLAG THAT FLEW OVER THE WHITE HOUSE FROM NOVEMBER 22,1963 TO DECEMBER 8, 1963
THE CANVAS EDGE OF THE OFFICIAL JFK WHITE HOUSE MOURNING FLAG WHERE THE WHITE HOUSE DOORMAN - PRESTON BRUCE - MADE HIS OFFICIAL NOTES OF PROVENANCE IN 1963
HISTORIAN & COLLECTOR - RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX 2010