When it was dedicated on August 22, 1972, the eternal flame was Chicago’s first memorial to honor the dead from four wars, World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
The Eternal Flame Memorial at Daley Plaza is a granite slab bearing a bronze circular disk containing a natural gas flame that burns perpetually. The inscription reads as follows: Eternal flame in memory of the men and women who have served in our armed forces.” Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves and Merchant Marines.
The flame which burns continuously was lit by Mrs. Albina Nance, who in 1972 was the president of the Illinois Gold Star Mothers.
The Eternal Flame Memorial at Daley Plaza is a granite slab bearing a bronze circular disk containing a natural gas flame that burns perpetually. The inscription reads as follows: Eternal flame in memory of the men and women who have served in our armed forces.” Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves and Merchant Marines.
The flame which burns continuously was lit by Mrs. Albina Nance, who in 1972 was the president of the Illinois Gold Star Mothers.
The photo I took of the pigeons milling around the flame was meant to be funny – I came up with several captions about grilling, barbecued bird, etc. But it turns out I’m not the first person to capture the pigeons congregating around the eternal flame and so the humor value has been lost.
Why am I posting about it anyway? Because in another couple of days I’ll put up pictures from my mom’s trip to Chicago in the late 60’s and compare them to a couple pictures I took from the other day.
My mom didn’t get to see the Eternal Flame at Daley Plaza because it wasn’t there yet, she was five years too early. I bet if she ever goes back to visit again there will still be a bunch of pigeons singeing their feathers…