Sunday, September 7, 2008

Scottish Order of the Thistle



James II and VII, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland [1633-1701] instituted the modern Order in 1687, whose motto "Nobody wounds us with impunity" was adopted by JFK:

November 13, 1963 at 4 p.m.
The soldiers arrayed themselves on the South Lawn. President Kennedy spoke briefly, saying he had an affection for lost causes and Scotland was a seeming lost cause that had triumphed. A Black Watch major presented him with an officer's dirk.
JFK: 
The major just said that the motto of the Black Watch is 'Nobody wounds us with impunity,' I think that is a very good motto for some of the rest of us.
November 22, 1963 at 12:30p.m.
President Kennedy is assassinated.
The funeral cortege leaves the White House for St. Matthew’ s Cathedral. The music was provided by nine pipers from the Black Watch of the Royal Highlanders Regiment, who played "The Brown Haired Maiden," "The Badge of Scotland," "The 51st Highland Division,” and "The Barren Rocks of Aden."