You will find this spot in Chicago's world famous Daley Plaza. It is designated as a war memorial and honors those who served and died in the armed forces. The flame, which is about the size of a stove burner or flag base, comes up from the sidewalk so, obviously it is fenced off to provide it some protection and also for the visitor's safety as well.
The Flame was first lit on August 22, 1972 and was dedicated by Mayor Richard J. Daley. On the ground near the flame you will find a plaque that reads: "Eternal Flame in memory of the men and women who have served in our armed forces from the Revolutionary War to present. Army, Marine, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves and Merchant Marines."
The Flame has been known to be a pigeon heater during the cold months, with the fence providing the pigeons uninterrupted and exclusive access to the warmth of the flame.
The flame is positioned just off of the Plaza's flagpole. It is a very basic design and could use a little cleaning and TLC. They do powerwash the area around the Flame periodically, but it is hard to keep up.
I am in support of anything that shows appreciation for our heroes, with this memorial being no exception. With that being said, this is not a destination piece and is just something that visitors would probably just stumble across like I did. read more