Palm Springs students create display honoring JFK

Right beside their awards and trophies, students at Palm Springs High School are taking their campus back in time they created a display of memorabilia to honor our country’s 35th president, John F. Kennedy and his tragic assassination.

“It’s terrible what happened to him. I can’t even imagine how his wife felt witnessing it,” said Jasmin Mercado, a 12th-grader.

The items from the estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis include a hand-written letter she wrote about her husband’s presidency before the assassination. You’ll also find an original copy of the Desert Sun issue from Nov. 22, 1963. Cadet Landon Quintana, 17, led the initiative to give students, staff and visitors a glimpse of history.

“I bring students over to come check this out,” said Quintana. “I want to hear what they have to say. We want to trigger people’s emotions and think about that day.”

Students also have the opportunity to flip through the pages of a book that traveled with Jackie Kennedy to the White House and their Georgetown home.

“I don’t think any other schools have done this,” said Mercado. “For our students and teachers, I think it’s special.”

Their inspiration comes from their government teacher Len Tugman, who at the time was a junior high student and collected the memorabilia over the years.

“I think it’s important to use heroes in history and heroes must not be forgotten,” said Tugman.

Quintana said JFK’s leadership inspires him to strive for excellence when he serves in the marines after graduation.

“Just knowing what a great man he was and knowing I’m going to be serving a country led by someone like him, I’m honored,” said Quintana.