Queen Elizabeth II dedicates John F. Kennedy Memorial at Runnymede

The memorial was dedicated by Queen Elizabeth II in May, 1965. Jacqueline Kennedy, John Jr., Caroline, Robert and Edward Kennedy were all present for the ceremony.

As a major part of the dedication, the Queen handed over one acre of land containing the memorial to then-Secretary of State Dean Rusk. It became American soil to symbolize the close association between the U.K. and the U.S.

The site is truly awe-inspiring - very peaceful - and it contains several elements not to be missed:

The memorial site itself was designed by famed landscape artist Geoffrey A. Jellicoe. Sculptor Alan Collins inscribed text on a 7-ton block of Portland white stone that is the highlight of the memorial. The stone is from the same quarry that provided material for St. Paul's Cathedral more than 300 years ago.

On the stone is the dedication "This acre of English Ground was Given to the United States of America by the People of Britain in Memory of John F. Kennedy." Also inscribed are his birth and death dates and a passage from his 1961 inaugural address.
Getting to the memorial stone is an impressive part of the experience. Visitors first pass through a wicket gate leading to a set of steps and a stone path. The design is based on the theme of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress - life, death and spirit.
The path has more than 60,000 granite stones representing the multitude of pilgrims (people of the U.S.) and winds gently up a small hill. The surface is rough, representing life's challenges.
The shallow steps running beside the path are numbered to represent each of President Kennedy's years of life. At the top of the steps there are larger platforms for viewing the memorial stone.

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[scob62]

People say Prince Philip is hard, look at him holding John Jr's hand. HM the Queen's speech was eloquent.

[flattop55]

She is the Queen of America also. God save the Queen!

[Spazzolinolini]

What is the piece of music being played?

[324wilson]

She made such a beautiful speech...

LONG LIVE OUR QUEEN!!!

[titoviiiify]

@flattop55 I have a terrible respect for england queens and kings but you are in terrible mistake you means queen of north america cause united state is not america in any country of america people never say americans they used north or gabacho, gringo for people for that country I love england I been twice but in real only the 13 colonies were part from england.

[FL74USA]

@ttiiyy Yes  I am you cretin

[ttiiyy]

@FL74USA Give me a break. You're not even an American. Mind your own business.

[FL74USA]

@ttiiyy screw that

[ttiiyy]

@flattop55 If Americans had not been stupid enough to fight War of 1812, sit back ,and let Britons take over, Elizabeth 2 would be the Queen of America today.

As a matter of fact, you would owned by a Briton. LMAO

[80Jellybean]

@flattop55

is she?.... I mean the queen of United States?

[fuzzdemon]

@SunCelticSea lol you conspiracy nut case.