On this night, Marilyn Monroe sang Happy Birthday to President John F. Kennedy

On this night in 1962, Marilyn Monroe was singing "Happy Birthday Mr. President" to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Since then, many people have imitated and recreated this moment in time. Was it the way she sang it? Was it because she was Marilyn Monroe? Was it because of who she was singing it to? Maybe it had to be the combination of the three to create this sort of magical memory for people.

Sadly, she died less than three months after this memorable night. She was only 36 years old. The coroner noted that her death was a probable suicide, although people have had other theories since then. 

President Kennedy was assassinated the following year. He was only 46. The day he was killed is a day that Americans will never forget. When I was growing up, I used to hear people's stories about how they remembered where they were when they found out President Kennedy was killed. Although I hadn't yet been born yet when President Kennedy was alive, and I never got to know what life in America was like when Kennedy was president, I could always see in people's eyes that the loss of President Kennedy was one of the greatest losses America had ever known. I knew it was a tragic day for the entire country, and I always felt sympathy for those who were alive when President Kennedy was president, because they fully understood what America had lost.

John F. Kennedy would be turning 93 on May 29th if he were alive today. Marilyn Monroe would be turning 84 a few days later, on June 1st. Happy Birthday, Mr. President. Happy Birthday, Marilyn Monroe. 

"Your candles burned out long before your legend ever will." - Elton John

Thank you to missmalevolent for posting Marilyn Monroe's performance on YouTube.