Robert H. Jackson
Special
50th Anniversary Memorial Service:
Sunday,
October 3, 2004 at 10:00 am
Read the Sermon by Fr. Moritz Fuchs, Jackson's
bodyguard at Nuremberg.
Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson was born
and educated in Frewsburg, NY, and rose to become one of our nation's greatest
leaders, presiding over the Nuremburg trials after World War II. He was
buried from St. Luke's Church on October 13, 1954 after his sudden and untimely
death on October 9.
(Photograph: Dignitaries at the 50th Anniversary Memorial Service.
Fr. Fuchs is in the center.)
Supreme Court Justice and “local boy” Robert
H. Jackson is deservedly famous, not only here in Jamestown, but around the
world. According to his biography on the
Jackson Center website,
he will be remembered for his work as a lawyer in the Roosevelt administration
and for his brilliant writing and insightful opinions on the Supreme Court.
However, he expressed the view prior to his death that perhaps his most enduring
work would be the new international law that he helped establish at Nuremberg.
In the decades since Nuremberg, and particularly recently, there have been many
occasions when that standard has helped nations cope with deeds of great evil.
Fifty years ago, on October 13, 1954, after
services at the Washington National Cathedral, Robert Jackson came home to be
buried from St. Luke’s Church. All the remaining Supreme Court justices made
the trip from Washington to be present as honorary pall bearers. Also in
attendance was Governor Thomas Dewey. Bishop Lauriston Scaife presided, along
with Fr. George O’Pray, St. Luke’s rector.
In honor of that historic occasion, and in
conjunction with the Robert Jackson center, St. Luke’s hosted a 50th
anniversary commemoration of that service. Fr.
Moritz Fuchs, Jackson’s bodyguard at Nuremberg, was the guest preacher.
Prof. John Q. Barrett gave an address on the Faith of Robert Jackson. In
attendance were other dignitaries, including surviving family members.
Special music was composed by Gerald Heglund. A
lovely reception was hosted by the Bishop Overs
Guild of St. Luke's Church. A copy of
the service bulletin may be downloaded here. The service was taped and
broadcast on Time Warner Cable local access channel 19.
I
am so grateful to Greg Peterson, Rolland Kidder and all of the wonderful people
at the Jackson Center for suggesting the idea for this service and for making it
possible.
Fr. Eric
Photographs of the
Jackson Funeral, October 13, 1954
Photographer:
William I. Siegfried of Jamestown, New York.
Click on the
thumbnails to see a larger image.
|
 Governor
Dewey, Assemblyman E. Herrman Magnuson of Jamestown, D. Lawrence Carlson,
prominent Jamestown attorney, and Mr. Tony Guinta, Post Journal reporter as
they enter St. Luke's
|
 New
York State Governor
Thomas E. Dewey
leaving St. Luke's Church |
 Crucifer
Denis O'Pray leads the clergy (including Fr. George O'Pray, rector of St.
Luke's and Bishop Lauriston L. Scaife, Bishop of Western New York) out of
the church. |
 Pallbearers
(can you name them?) carry the coffin to the hearse. |
|
 All
eight surviving justices attended. They are pictured (descending order
from the back L-R): Thomas Clark, ?, William O. Douglas,
Stanley Reed, Sherman Minton,
Felix Frankfurter, Earl Warren (Chief),
Hugo Black
|
 The
Jamestown Commandry served as honor guard for Justice Jackson. The
Supreme Court justices were honorary pallbearers and are here shown leaving
for the interment at Frewsburg, New York |
 Crowds
gather on North Main Street as Justice Jackson's body is taken from the
church and placed in the hearse. |
 A
photograph of the church as the funeral procession leaves for the cemetery
in Frewsburg |
Crucifer
Denis O'Pray leads the clergy (including Fr. George O'Pray, rector of St.
Luke's and Bishop Lauriston L. Scaife, Bishop of Western New York) out of
the church.
Pallbearers
(can you name them?) carry the coffin to the hearse.
The
Jamestown Commandry served as honor guard for Justice Jackson. The
Supreme Court justices were honorary pallbearers and are here shown leaving
for the interment at Frewsburg, New York
Crowds
gather on North Main Street as Justice Jackson's body is taken from the
church and placed in the hearse.
A
photograph of the church as the funeral procession leaves for the cemetery
in Frewsburg
