By Kevin Broom, Vice President, Marketing & Communications

Around the U.S. are more than three dozen eternal flame monuments constructed to honor those who sacrificed in service to the nation. These sites are also testament to the value and reliability of midstream industry professionals and their downstream partners who provide the natural gas and natural gas liquids used to keep many of these flames lit.

"When we dedicated the Eternal Flame in 2011, during my time commanding the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, it was a profound moment for me," said retired Lt. Gen. Frank G. Helmick. "We built it to honor the men and women who died serving our nation during a time of war. The cauldron, made from steel recovered from the World Trade Center, sits on a foundation of North Carolina stone. This design symbolizes our national loss, our local roots, and our solemn promise that the flame will burn until every Fort Bragg soldier comes home.

"For me, this monument, and all monuments like it, is a tangible reminder of courage, loss, and the enduring cost of freedom," Helmick continued. "Whenever I encounter one, no matter where I am, I always stop to reflect on the immense weight of what they stand for. These monuments ensure that the bravery of fallen heroes is never forgotten and that their ultimate sacrifice continues to inspire us all."

Visitors to these sites are properly focused on the fallen and not the invisible work of industry professionals. It's a symphony of behind the scenes work to keep the fires burning — a linked chain from gathering to processing to transportation to combustion. Every valve adjustment, inspection, and data log in some way honors a veteran’s sacrifice.

"It's an honor for us to help keep the Eternal Flame burning," said Ryland Kam, Director, Utility Field Operations with Hawai'i Gas. Kam worked on the gas system for Hawaii's Eternal Flame Memorial. The memorial — in memory of those who lost their lives in the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor — is a copper and bronze sculpture designed by Kauaʻi-born artist and 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran Bumpei Akaji. It stands across from the Hawaii State Capitol. "At Hawai'i Gas, we're humbled to play a small part in preserving the heroes' legacy. By supplying a continuous, reliable source of fuel for the Eternal Flame, we help to ensure that this meaningful and powerful memorial continues to keep their memory alive."

Midstream may seem invisible, but it matters because honoring heroes isn’t just about ceremonies and monuments — it’s about reliability. Midstream professionals take that responsibility seriously with or without headlines or posts on social media — just steady operations and an unrelenting focus on safety.

Check out GPA Midstream's Memorial Day LinkedIn post, which honored the fallen and highlighted three eternal flame memorials.