Published on
Kennedy Flame ceremony held in Arlington ahead of JFK 50 celebrations
Minister Paul Kehoe at the ceremony in Arlington with Joseph Kennedy III, grand nephew of President John F Kennedy
Minister of State Paul Kehoe and a colour party of the Irish Defence Forces today played a central role in a ceremony at Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. along with members of the US military.
The Irish Government, represented by Minister Kehoe, and members of the Kennedy family, including Congressman Joe Kennedy III, participated a ceremony where a flame was taken from the Eternal Flame on the grave of President John F. Kennedy in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington. This is the first time since the death of President Kennedy in 1963 that the Kennedy family have allowed a flame be taken from the grave.
The flame was taken from the grave by a member of the colour party of the Irish Defence Forces. The Irish Army will bring the flame back to Ireland where it will pass from the Irish Army to the Irish Naval Service in a ceremony at Dublin Airport on Thursday morning. The Naval Service will take the flame from Dublin to New Ross onboard the LE Orla where it will be used by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Caroline Kennedy and Jean Kennedy-Smith to light the Emigrant Flame in a special ceremony on the 22 June.
Minister Kehoe stated:
This ceremony in Arlington marks the start of the JFK 50 celebrations. We will take this flame on a journey home to Ireland where it will be used to light an Emigrant Flame in New Ross to honour all the emigrants, including Patrick Kennedy, who left our nation to start new lives in the US, the UK, Australian, Canada and countries across the globe. This flame is a powerful symbol.
Read the full press release here.