Video: Irish Honor Guard Member Talks About Being Part of JFK's Funeral, 50 Years Later

Retired Lt. Col. John Dunne, a member of the Irish Defence Forces 37th Cadet Class, which provided the honor guard at President John F. Kennedy's funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, laid a wreath at the eternal flame Monday on the 50th anniversary of JFK's burial.

Fifty years ago, when the Kennedy family requested the honor guard's presence at the funeral, the 26 young men from Ireland were excited but focused on the task at hand, he said.

"Our total concept was to get this arms drill right, and do it correctly, so that, for the day and for prosperity, we do our country, and our military college and our cadet school proud," Dunne said. "That was it."

Members of the current cadet class told Patch on Monday that all of their peers know the story of the 37th.

"JFK really symbolizes the link between Ireland and America," Cadet Fionn McCaffrey said.

Read more on the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's burial at Arlington National Cemetery:

Photos: Irish Honor Guard Commemorates 50th Anniversary of Kennedy's Burial

50 Years Later, Irish Cadets Return to Kennedy's Gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery