The Secret JFK Memorial Hat Wreath

An undated photo mislabeled as “War Art” on eBay, but which was, in fact, a photo of the JFK memorial wreath sculpted by Louis Féron, acquired by Oak Spring Garden Foundation, via Ploughshares An absolutely fascinating story about a lost JFK memorial sculpture unfolded in 2022-24 at the otherwise serene enclave of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, the former estate of Bunny Mellon. It seems to have unfolded twice, or at least to be recounted twice. So far. And I am enthralled by both accounts, which art historian Andrew Wasserman just laid before me. Except now I must repent of some of my judgments of Mrs. Paul Mellon, or at least allow her more grace. The basics are that Jackie Kennedy asked Bunny Mellon to be responsible for the design of her husband’s grave site—and to represent her and her family’s wishes for it. This Mellon did, quite publicly. JFK was reinterred from his original grave to the Eternal Flame site in 1967, which had been cut from New England granite by Mellon’s…