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Monday, November 25, 1963 Page Two The drive to Arlington took over an hour. The long line of limousines moved slowly behind the cortege. The choice of Arlington as John F. Kennedy's last resting place did not come easily. Brookline Massachusetts was considered seriously.Yet a national cemetery seemed appropriate for a national leader and former Navy man, even though only one other President, William Howard Taft (1930) had been buried there. The spot was just below the Custis-Lee mansion, renamed Arlington House in 1972. At the Arlington the services included a flyover of 50 F-105 jets. One jet for each state. Then Air Force One with the 26000 on its tail flew slowly by alone and then dipped her wings in farewell. Jackie Kennedy, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, Rose Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery

The body bearers folded the interment flag, and Jack Metzler Sr., superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery presented it to Mrs. Kennedy Jackie Kennedy and Robert Kennedy have a brief word of thanks for the priests. A contingent of the Irish Guard stood opposite the grave, Richard Cardinal Cushing performed a Roman Catholic committal service, the 21 gun salute sounded, Taps was played. Then Jackie Kennedy lit the eternal flame which burns yet today. She handed the taper to Robert and Edward Kennedy in turn so they might participate in the lighting as well. The flame at the memorial to the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triompe in Paris had been Mrs. Kennedy's inspiration for this. After the services Jackie Kennedy alternated with other family members receiving guests at the White House while President Johnson held a reception of his own for foreign leaders. Later that night Jackie Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy returned quietly to Arlington to pay their respects. November 28, 1963 Mrs. Kennedy returned again to Arlington on November 28, 1963. The service hats upon the gravesite first appeared the night of the funeral when a green beret was placed there by a Special Forces soldier.

About the John F. Kennedy Grave On Dec. 4, 1963, the two deceased Kennedy children were reburied in Arlington, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, who had predeceased JFK by 15 weeks from Brookline and the stillborn daughter from Newport, R.I. Originally, the site was grassed and surrounded by a white picket fence. The initial plot was 20 feet by 30 feet. But no one had anticipated the large number of people coming by to pay their respects. this presented a problem. Cemetery officials and members of the Kennedy family recognized that a better solution was required. The entire site is 3.2 acres and is federal land, not Kennedy property. Reconstruction was completed in 1967 to the more familiar cobblestone plot we see today. President Kennedy and his two deceased children were quietly reinterred to this new grave. Cardinal Cushing formally blessed the new site in a private service, which was attended by Mrs. Kennedy, Senators Robert and Edward Kennedy and President Lyndon Johnson. On May 23, 1994, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was buried next to President John Kennedy. Today the eternal flame burns above and between them and they are each flanked by a deceased child.

John F. Kennedy Jr. places a PT 109 tie clasp on his father's grave on the occasion of John F. Kennedy's 47th birthday, May 29, 1964. He is accompanied by his mother, Jackie Kennedy and sister Caroline.

Photo courtesy Sean Rich Click for more Kennedy gravesite photosThe Kennedy gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery as it looks today.

Copyright 2009. All Rights reserved. Candace Rich.