John F. Kennedy’s Address to Canadian Parliament

When President Kennedy gave this address to our Canadian Parliament on May 17, 1961, I was six years old and our close friends, also post-war German immigrants, had just moved to the U.S. "Why aren't we moving there as well?" I wondered.  

When I was twelve, I went to visit them with my sister and parents in Stuart, FLA.

Wow.

In 1971 and 1972, when I was sixteen and seventeen, I was a member of our high-school choir and got to go on music exchange tours with schools in West-Chester, Pennsylvania.

Amazing.

Since then, I've been to The United States, at least twenty times, for business and pleasure.

I looked forward to each trip because I was going to see my neighbour and friend.

President Kennedy’s vision, expressed and framed over 60 years ago, had become my frame of reference for our two countries as well.

I suppose I took it all for granted.

Despite these turbulent times, I pray that, in the long run, President Kennedy’s vision will prevail.

Geography has made us neighbours. 

History has made us friends. 

Economics has made us partners. 

And necessity has made us allies.

John F. Kennedy’s Address to Canadian Parliament.

May 17, 1961.

Source: JFK Library