I can't believe it has been 20 years since John Kennedy Jr. perished in his airplane with his wife and sister in law.

He has always held a special place in my heart. His dad, President John F. Kennedy, died about the same time as my husband. I watched John Jr. grow up and try to be as strong as his mother, Jackie. I had a boy and girl also. My daughter is John Jr.'s age and my son is Caroline's age. Kennedy went to Brown University and my daughter went to Providence College. They crossed paths in college when Kennedy spoke at Providence College. He went to law school and she pursued her career as teacher with a master's degree.

I was lucky enough to stand five feet away from Jackie and John Kennedy at Caroline's wedding. I also was fortunate enough to photograph John Jr. and his wife at another Kennedy function.

When it was announced that his plane was missing, I felt heartbroken. How could this happen to this family, over and over again. He would have been a great president like his father. I watched brave Caroline speak at her brother's memorial Mass.

If you ever see Caroline's pictures of her family, her son looks like John and her daughter looks like Jackie.

I will always remember him in my prayers and hope that another Kennedy will run for president.

Joanne Mailloux Murphy

Fall River