KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Liberty Memorial flame was ‘blazing’ Friday night for the first time in a year.
The flame is actually created by venting steam from the Liberty Memorial Tower, but the expense of it grounded it for a time.
However, recently the museum has received new conservation upgrades and installed new technology.
“We’re excited that after almost a year we can turn the flame back on the whole story behind that is energy conservation upgrades,” said Denise Rendina, National WWI Spokesperson.
Before the upgrades, the cost to keep the flame lit was about $100,000 a year. They’ve now cut that by about 30%. Overall, the museum is expected to save a total of about $65,000 a year.
“So when that flame burns- the reminder to everyone is- out there that we indeed are the keeper of all those souls that are no longer here they’ve been gone at least a hundred years,” said Dr Mary Davidson Cohen, with the Board of Trustees.
“That to me is kind of overwhelming that all these people- you see their picture, look at their uniforms, see what they’ve left behind in life. They’ve been gone at least a hundred years and we take care of what’s left,” she said.
The new technology also allows them to control the flame via an iPad. The app also controls everything from lights to the HVAC system.
All these upgrades are in anticipation for the 100 year anniversary celebration next year.
“A lot of the prep work over the last few years cleaning the stone work to these energy conservation upgrades irrigation and security all these things are all getting us ready because the world’s eyes will be on us in 2014,” said Rendina.
