President John F. Kennedy was buried at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) on Nov. 25, 1963, following his assassination. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of his burial, and to honor his legacy, ANC is hosting a walking tour on Nov. 17, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.
The tour is free and open to the public. Participants will meet at the James Tanner Amphitheater near the Arlington House tram stop. The group will then walk to the front of the Arlington House, view the famous overlook towards Washington, D.C. and then down Custis Walk to the John F. Kennedy Gravesite. Participants will also see the Robert and Ted Kennedy gravesites, as well as Joseph Kennedy’s memorial marker. The tour will conclude at the gravesite of Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara in Section 2.
JFK’s tragic death had a profound impact on the nation. His televised funeral also forever changed the public understandings of Arlington National Cemetery. As a result, demand for burial at ANC grew significantly and led to many changes at the cemetery, including expansion and the creation of additional above-ground inurnment spaces.
This tour, led by ANC historians and horticulture experts, will address this history, as well as the design and landscaping of the gravesite area.