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John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame Upgrade Project

Published Feb. 15, 2018
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ARLINGTON, Va. -- Secretary of the Army John McHugh transfers the JFK Eternal Flame back to its permanent location on Oct. 29, 2013, after repair work to the site was completed. The flame underwent a full replacement of gas and airlines, received new digital controls and sensors, as well as a new burner assembly.
SLIDESHOW | 10 images | Secretary Transfers Flame
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Secretary of the Army John McHugh transfers the JFK Eternal Flame back to its permanent location on Oct. 29, 2013, after repair work to the site was completed. The flame underwent a full replacement of gas and airlines, received new digital controls and sensors, as well as a new burner assembly.
Secretary Transfers Flame 1 of 10
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Secretary of the Army John McHugh transfers the JFK Eternal Flame back to its permanent location on Oct. 29, 2013, after repair work to the site was completed. The flame underwent a full replacement of gas and airlines, received new digital controls and sensors, as well as a new burner assembly.
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ARLINGTON, Va. – The John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame sits dormant just prior to Secretary of the Army John McHugh transferring the JFK Eternal Flame back to its permanent location on Oct. 29, 2013, after repair work to the site was completed. The flame underwent a full replacement of gas and airlines, received new digital controls and sensors, as well as a new burner assembly. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)
Before the Transfer 2 of 10
ARLINGTON, Va. – The John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame sits dormant just prior to Secretary of the Army John McHugh transferring the JFK Eternal Flame back to its permanent location on Oct. 29, 2013, after repair work to the site was completed. The flame underwent a full replacement of gas and airlines, received new digital controls and sensors, as well as a new burner assembly. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)
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ARLINGTON, Va. – Brian Swersky of Gasman Services and Consulting makes adjustments to the gas and airflow to the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame Oct. 1, 2013. The flame is undergoing upgrades overseen by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,with a new burner, igniter, gas, and air lines as well as new safety controls and sensors. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)
Flame adjustment 3 of 10
ARLINGTON, Va. – Brian Swersky of Gasman Services and Consulting makes adjustments to the gas and airflow to the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame Oct. 1, 2013. The flame is undergoing upgrades overseen by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,with a new burner, igniter, gas, and air lines as well as new safety controls and sensors. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)
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ARLINGTON, Va. -- The new burner for the Eternal Flame at the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy was relit May 17, 2013 after undergoing upgrades and repairs. Contractors moved the flame temporarily in order to replace the old burner with a new, naturally aspirated one. The flame was at its temporary location for about three weeks. (U.S. Army photo/Melissa Bohan)
Burning brite 4 of 10
ARLINGTON, Va. -- The new burner for the Eternal Flame at the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy was relit May 17, 2013 after undergoing upgrades and repairs. Contractors moved the flame temporarily in order to replace the old burner with a new, naturally aspirated one. The flame was at its temporary location for about three weeks. (U.S. Army photo/Melissa Bohan)
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ARLINGTON, Va. -- Randy Barton, an Arlington National Cemetery engineering technician, re-lights the Eternal Flame from the temporary flame at President John F. Kennedy's gravesite on May, 17, 2013 here. The flame has been undergoing repair and upgrade work, which includes installing newly designed burners, a new igniter and new gas and air lines. Underground work continues and is expected to be complete later this month.(U.S. Army Photo/Melissa Bohan)
Eternal Flame relit 5 of 10
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Randy Barton, an Arlington National Cemetery engineering technician, re-lights the Eternal Flame from the temporary flame at President John F. Kennedy's gravesite on May, 17, 2013 here. The flame has been undergoing repair and upgrade work, which includes installing newly designed burners, a new igniter and new gas and air lines. Underground work continues and is expected to be complete later this month.(U.S. Army Photo/Melissa Bohan)
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ARLINGTON, Va. –A white fence temporarily shields the public’s view of the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame at Arlington National Cemetery April 29, 2013. The flame, which is undergoing repair and upgrade work, will receive new burners, a new igniter as well as new gas and air lines. Work on the burner itself will take about three weeks to complete. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)
Temporary view 6 of 10
ARLINGTON, Va. –A white fence temporarily shields the public’s view of the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame at Arlington National Cemetery April 29, 2013. The flame, which is undergoing repair and upgrade work, will receive new burners, a new igniter as well as new gas and air lines. Work on the burner itself will take about three weeks to complete. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)
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ARLINGTON, Va. – Randy Barton, an Arlington National Cemetery engineering technician, lights a temporary flame using a torch that was lit from the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame at the cemetery April 29, 2013. The temporary flame will burn while the permanent flame undergoes repair and upgrade work to install new burners, a new igniter and new gas and air lines. Work on the burner itself will take about three weeks to complete. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)
Temporary lighting 7 of 10
ARLINGTON, Va. – Randy Barton, an Arlington National Cemetery engineering technician, lights a temporary flame using a torch that was lit from the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame at the cemetery April 29, 2013. The temporary flame will burn while the permanent flame undergoes repair and upgrade work to install new burners, a new igniter and new gas and air lines. Work on the burner itself will take about three weeks to complete. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)
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ARLINGTON, Va. – Randy Barton, an Arlington National Cemetery engineering technician, lights a torch from the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame April 29, 2013. The torch was used to transfer the flame to a temporary burner while the permanent flame undergoes repair and upgrade work to install new burners, a new igniter as well as new gas and air lines. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)
Transferring the flame 8 of 10
ARLINGTON, Va. – Randy Barton, an Arlington National Cemetery engineering technician, lights a torch from the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame April 29, 2013. The torch was used to transfer the flame to a temporary burner while the permanent flame undergoes repair and upgrade work to install new burners, a new igniter as well as new gas and air lines. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)
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ARLINGTON, Va. – Contractors install white fencing at the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame at Arlington National Cemetery April 29, 2013. The fencing will block the public’s view of the flame while contractors install burners, an igniter and new gas and air lines. Work on the burner itself will take about three weeks to complete. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)
Building a fence 9 of 10
ARLINGTON, Va. – Contractors install white fencing at the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame at Arlington National Cemetery April 29, 2013. The fencing will block the public’s view of the flame while contractors install burners, an igniter and new gas and air lines. Work on the burner itself will take about three weeks to complete. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)
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Contractors install white fencing at the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame at Arlington National Cemetery April 29, 2013. The fencing will block the public’s view of the flame while contractors install burners, an igniter and new gas and air lines. Work on the burner itself will take about three weeks to complete. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)
Fencing off a flame 10 of 10
Contractors install white fencing at the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame at Arlington National Cemetery April 29, 2013. The fencing will block the public’s view of the flame while contractors install burners, an igniter and new gas and air lines. Work on the burner itself will take about three weeks to complete. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)
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Project Scope:

The project updated the memorial’s burner and igniter system as well as installed new gas and air lines, and new safety sensors. The 1960’s system was on the last functioning burner and the ignition system started malfunctioning. 

The foot stones of President Kennedy and his family were visible during the upgrade, and no changes were made to the gravesite itself.

During the upgrade process white fencing was erected to shield visitors from seeing the crews at work and kept the area as a memorial to the 35th president with out the distraction of construction workers in the background. 

In a ceremony on October 29, 2013, John McHugh, secretary of the Army, transfered the flame back to its permanent location in the circular stone at the gravesite marking the end of the upgrade process.

In 1965, the Norfolk District managed the design and construction of the permanent resting site for President Kennedy, which is the second most visited site at the cemetery after the Tomb of the Unknowns.  

Programmed Cost:

  • $350,000