Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Congressman Richard E. Neal will join the Springfield Board of Park Commissioners, Executive Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Patrick Sullivan, James E. Sullivan, and members of the JFK Remembrance Committee on Wednesday afternoon for the 60th JFK Remembrance Ceremony at the Eternal Flame in Forest Park. The remembrance is held annually to honor the memory of President John F. Kennedy on the date of his assassination: November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas.
An eternal flame was erected in Forest Park by supporters and admirers of the late President. It is one of only two in the nation dedicated and maintained in memory of President Kennedy. Luminaries, former Springfield Mayor William C. Sullivan, James Sullivan, Hon. Edward P. Boland, Judge Daniel M. Keyes, William Marrott and others created the tribute. They all knew JFK, worked in his U.S. Senate campaigns as well as his Presidential campaign.
Only James Sullivan remains of the group. He will attend Wednesday’s memorial and give remarks. Congressman Neal, Mayor Sarno, Bishop William D. Byrne, and Bishop Talbot Swan, President of the Greater Springfield NAACP, will also present remarks.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony.
This year, Patrick Sullivan, Executive Director of PBRM, and his team have made special preparations for the tribute and the public. An incredible display of large boards detailing JFK’s presidency will be on display in the former Monkey house at Forest Park, in line-of-sight to the JFK Eternal Flame.
The boards were created by Leslie Bercume of the Parks Department. Renowned local historians and authors Wayne Phaneuf and Joseph Carvalho prepared all the information for the boards.
The public is invited to view the exhibit Wednesday, and again from Friday to Sunday next week.
