The
building, new at the time, was named shortly after John F. Kennedy's
assassination when UD students lobbied for the name. UD officials
agreed and thought a sculpture of Kennedy and the eternal flame would
be a suitable symbol to memorialize the nation's first Catholic
president.
Originally
installed in 1964, it was removed in 1997 for a $33,000 restoration.
It was reinstalled and unveiled for Homecoming 1998. The restoration of the statue
was noted by Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg in a letter to UD President
Brother Raymond L. Fitz, S.M.
"I
know it was a landmark at the entrance of Kennedy Union for over 30
years, and I am so pleased that the University has chosen to return
the sculpture to its original home," she wrote. "My father
took pride in being elected the first Catholic president of the United
States, and I think it's fitting that he be honored here at Ohio's
largest Catholic university. ... It is my hope that this beautiful
piece will remain here for generations of students to come as a
reminder of President Kennedy's service to this country, and his
commitment to the arts and preservation."
The
letter from Caroline Kennedy is displayed in the director's office in
Room 241.
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