Eleven days before the tragic assassination that shocked the world, President John F. Kennedy visited Arlington National Cemetery to observe Veterans Day in 1963. Little did anyone know that this solemn place would soon become his final resting ground. Just days later, on November 22, 1963, during a campaign trip to Dallas, President Kennedy was fatally shot, leaving the nation in grief and prompting immediate plans for his burial.
Alt text: The eternal flame burns brightly at the center of John F. Kennedy’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery, surrounded by a circular granite stone.
Kennedy’s burial at Arlington marked a significant moment, as he became only the second president to be interred at this hallowed ground, alongside William Howard Taft. Initially, there was widespread expectation that Kennedy would be buried in his home state of Massachusetts, in Brookline where he was born and spent his formative years. However, Jacqueline Kennedy, the First Lady, held a different vision. She desired a gravesite that would be easily accessible to all Americans, a place where the public could pay their respects to the fallen leader. In making this important decision, she consulted with Robert F. Kennedy, the President’s brother, and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, both of whom would also later be laid to rest at Arlington, solidifying the Kennedy family’s connection to this national cemetery. The initial location chosen for President Kennedy’s grave was a gentle slope on the hillside, strategically positioned along the axis connecting Arlington House and the Lincoln Memorial, symbolizing a link between different eras of American history and leadership.
The state funeral for President Kennedy commenced at 3 p.m. on November 25, 1963, a day etched in the memories of millions worldwide. Dignitaries from across the globe gathered to mourn, including President Charles de Gaulle of France, Chancellor Ludwig Erhard of West Germany, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, and Prince Philip of the United Kingdom, demonstrating the global impact of Kennedy’s leadership and untimely death. As a final aerial salute, fifty Navy and Air Force jets soared overhead, followed by Air Force One, the presidential plane, dipping its wing in a poignant gesture of farewell. Television networks broadcast the funeral live, capturing the hearts of millions who watched from their homes, leading to an unprecedented surge in public interest in Arlington National Cemetery as a place of remembrance and national significance.
Alt text: An early photograph of John F. Kennedy’s gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery, showing the original white picket fence surrounding the simple plot.
The original gravesite, measuring 20 feet by 30 feet, was initially marked by a simple white picket fence. In the immediate aftermath of Kennedy’s burial, the site became a focal point for national mourning. During the first year alone, it is estimated that up to 3,000 people per hour visited the grave, and on weekends, the number swelled to approximately 50,000, illustrating the profound impact Kennedy had on the American public and their need to grieve collectively. Within three years of his death, over 16 million people had made the pilgrimage to Arlington to visit President Kennedy’s grave.
The sheer volume of visitors prompted cemetery officials and the Kennedy family to collaborate on creating a more permanent and suitable memorial. Construction began in 1965 and culminated on July 20, 1967, with the dedication of the redesigned gravesite. At the heart of the memorial is an eternal flame, ignited by Jacqueline Kennedy herself, which burns continuously from the center of a five-foot circular granite stone, symbolizing the enduring legacy of John F. Kennedy and the ideals he championed.
The Kennedy family contributed to the costs directly associated with the grave area, while the federal government allocated $1,770,000 through the 1965 Public Works appropriation to fund improvements in the surrounding area, ensuring accessibility and accommodating the immense crowds of visitors. This collaborative effort underscores the national importance of the Kennedy gravesite as a place of remembrance and reflection.
Alt text: The simple white cross marking the grave of Robert F. Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery, located near his brother President John F. Kennedy.
The Kennedy family’s connection to Arlington extends beyond President Kennedy’s grave. Nearby, other family members are also interred, creating a poignant Kennedy family circle within the national cemetery. Robert F. Kennedy, tragically assassinated in 1968, was buried at Arlington in 1971, further solidifying the family’s bond with this sacred ground. Senator Edward M. Kennedy was laid to rest in an adjacent plot following his death in 2009, joining his brothers. A memorial marker also stands for Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., JFK’s eldest brother, who died during World War II. In 1994, former First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was buried beside President Kennedy, completing the family circle and ensuring their eternal togetherness at Arlington National Cemetery, a place forever linked with the Kennedy legacy and American history.
