On March 14, 1967, President John F. Kennedy’s remains were reinterred at their permanent resting place in Arlington National Cemetery in a meticulously planned and solemn ceremony. This event took place more than three years after his assassination in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. Initially, Kennedy had been laid to rest in a temporary grave at Arlington on November 25, 1963, but the decision was made to relocate his remains to a more substantial and dignified memorial to better accommodate the steady stream of visitors paying tribute to the fallen president.
The decision to move Kennedy’s body was influenced by both practical and symbolic considerations. His original burial site, marked by an eternal flame lit by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, quickly became one of Arlington’s most visited locations. By early 1964, thousands of visitors arrived daily, straining the cemetery’s infrastructure. While the original gravesite was dignified, it lacked the space necessary to support the growing crowds. In response, the Kennedy family, in coordination with the U.S. Army and Arlington Cemetery officials, determined that a more permanent and accommodating memorial was needed.
The process of designing the new gravesite took several years. Under the guidance of architect John Carl Warnecke, the permanent memorial was envisioned as a more expansive space, featuring a semicircular granite walkway and an improved eternal flame installation. The goal was to create a solemn yet accessible site where visitors could pay their respects while preserving the dignity of Kennedy’s legacy. Construction began in 1965 and was completed in early 1967.
The reinterment ceremony on March 14, 1967, was conducted privately, in stark contrast to the grand state funeral of 1963. Attended by members of the Kennedy family, close friends, and military officials, the event was marked by its quiet dignity. Jacqueline Kennedy, who had played a central role in the planning of both the temporary and permanent burial sites, was present alongside Kennedy’s brothers, Robert and Edward Kennedy. The ceremony included full military honors and a brief prayer service led by Cardinal Richard Cushing, a longtime family friend.
Kennedy’s remains were carefully transferred from the temporary grave to a specially constructed crypt at the new site. His original casket was placed within a white marble sarcophagus, and the eternal flame—now housed in a more secure and permanent structure—was reignited. As a final tribute, soil from Massachusetts, Kennedy’s home state, was placed near the grave. Additionally, the remains of his two infant children, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy (who died in 1963) and a stillborn daughter, were relocated to the new site so the family could rest together.
The reinterment reflected the enduring significance of Kennedy’s presidency and the profound reverence the public continued to hold for his memory. His assassination had left an indelible mark on the American psyche, and his final resting place became a site of national pilgrimage. Over the decades, millions of visitors have come to Arlington to pay their respects, drawn by the legacy of a leader whose life was tragically cut short.
Since the reinterment, the Kennedy gravesite has remained one of the most prominent landmarks within Arlington National Cemetery. When Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis passed away in 1994, she was laid to rest beside her husband. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968, was also buried nearby, further cementing the site’s connection to one of America’s most influential political families.
The new, permanent site ensured that future generations could continue to honor his memory in a setting befitting his legacy. The memorial at Arlington stands as a testament to his vision, leadership, and the enduring impact of his presidency.
