First black Secret Service agent inspires students

Students in Newburgh heard an inspiring message Tuesday from the first black Secret Service agent to guard a president.
Abraham Bolden told his own tale to students at South Junior High School of going from a poor kid in Illinois to becoming the first black man to guard the president as part of the Secret Service. Bolden remembers being hand-picked by President John F. Kennedy himself. Bolden told the students he only got the opportunity by being prepared. He said he studied the Constitution and how the U.S. government works and told the kids how he truly wanted to make a difference.
Bolden was on a different assignment the day Kennedy was assassinated, but told the kids what a great loss it was for the country. Bolden hopes by recounting his involvement in a groundbreaking event, students will become interested in how they can be part of their government.