A R L I N G T O N   N A T I O N A L   C E M E T E R Y

Arlington, Virginia

Finally, I arrive at JFK's gravesite. Ahhh, there is the Eternal Flame. The idea of an eternal flame isn't a new concept that originated at Kennedy's gravesite, rather, it's an age old symbol placed in rememberance of someone important, a specific event, or to commemorate a group of brave and/or noble people. Two examples include the Arc de Triomphe in Paris (burning since 1921) and a Buddhist tomb in Nara, Japan (burning for over 1,100 years).

VIDEOS: Here's a video (0.8 MB) of the Eternal Flame.

Four souls are buried here; JFK, First Lady Jacqueline, and their two children, Patrick, a premature baby who died 3 days after birth, and an unnamed daughter who died at birth. I didn't know about the baby graves, that's pretty sad.

The four gravesites face this courtyard. There's plenty of room here for people to queue up if the visiting crowd swells. Along the far edge of the courtyard you'll find seven of JFK's more notable quotes from his U.S. Inaugural Address.

"The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world."

"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country."

"With a good conscious, our only sure reward, with history the judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth, God's work must truly be our own."

"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it."