Bust of John F. Kennedy (Nashua, New Hampshire)

Bust of John F. Kennedy
The sculpture in 2015
ArtistEvangelos Frudakis
Year1965
MediumBronze, granite
SubjectJohn F. Kennedy
LocationNashua City Hall, Nashua, New Hampshire, United States

John F. Kennedy is a 1965 bust of John F. Kennedy, sculpted by Evangelos William Frudakis. It is located on the south side of the city hall plaza in Nashua, New Hampshire, and commemorates Kennedy inaugurating his 1960 presidential campaign in Nashua.[1]

Design

The bust is made of bronze supported on a black granite base.[2] The bust and base are bordered by a black metal fence surrounding flower plantings. The bust has the following inscriptions on its base:[3]

Front

IN MEMORIAM PRESIDENT JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY ON JANUARY 25th, 1960 THIS CITY HALL PLAZA WAS JOHN F. KENNEDY'S FIRST CAMPAIGN STOP IN THE NATION FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Rear

LET THE WORD GO FORTH FROM THIS TIME AND PLACE, TO FRIEND AND FOE ALIKE, THAT THE TORCH HAS BEEN PASSED TO A NEW GENERATION OF AMERICANS--BORN IN THIS CENTURY, TEMPERED BY WAR, DISCIPLINED BY A HARD AND BITTER PEACE, PROUD OF OUR ANCIENT HERITAGE.

JOHN F. KENNEDY JANUARY 20, 1961

PUBLIC CONTRIBUTIONS MISS CECELIA WINN MAYOR MARIO J. VAGGE/ CHR.

ERECTED 1965

History

The bust, created by the sculptor Evangelos William Frudakis, was financed by the Kennedy Memorial Drive Committee chaired by Cecelia Winn and Nashua Mayor Mario Vagge. It was officially unveiled at Nashua's Veterans Day parade on November 11, 1965.[2] The bust was initially situated in the center of Nashua's City Hall Plaza, facing eastward overlooking Main Street. In 2015, following an expansion of the City Hall Plaza, the bust was moved to the south side and now faces north.[4] In November of 1996, the bust was stolen by Wayne Heinemann, William Moore, and Raymond Descoteaux and recovered by the Nashua police a few days later.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Brindley, Michael (Nov. 22, 2021). "In Nashua, Remembering the Day John F. Kennedy Launched His Campaign." New Hampshire Public Radio.
  2. ^ a b Durocher, Claudette (Nov. 11, 1965). "Citizen's March With Veterans: Nashua's Biggest November 11 Parade in Years; John F. Kennedy Bust is Revealed" Nashua Telegraph. Page 1.
  3. ^ "John Fitzgerald Kennedy, (sculpture)", America's Presidents.
  4. ^ Stylianos, Julia (Oct. 11, 2021). "Written in Granite: Still Inspired by JFK Bust in Nashua, NH". Lowell Sun.
  5. ^ Wolfe, Andrew, and Grace Murphey (Nov. 22, 1996). "Police recover bust of JFK, arrest three". Nashua Telegraph, pages 1, 13