Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. President, will be honored Thursday with the pageantry of a state funeral in the nation’s capital, followed by a second service and burial in his tiny Georgia hometown.
Carter’s Casket Makes Its Final Departure from Washington
Carter’s casket is headed back to Georgia. The former president’s remains were loaded onto a plane that usually serves as Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland after a brief ceremony that included an artillery salute and the U.S. Air Force Band playing the hymn “O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee.”
A knot of 11 military officers gave a crisp final salute as the plane taxied away. The aircraft, carrying the casket, the Carter family and their guests, lifted off for Fort Moore in Georgia, where another motorcade will return Carter’s body to Plains for a second funeral service and burial Thursday evening.
Carter’s Service Concludes
Carter’s service has concluded.
Following prayers and benediction from the assembled clergy, Carter’s services at Washington National Cathedral have come to a close. Once the procession reaches the cathedral’s outside steps, “Hail to the Chief” sounds again, following “Faith of our Fathers” from the U.S. Coast Guard Band.
Carter’s casket is then placed in the hearse, and it, along with Carter’s relatives and guests head in a motorcade to Joint Base Andrews.
At that point, Carter’s final journey home to Georgia begins. At the air base, there will be more music and another 21-gun salute before the casket is loaded onto the plane, and Carter’s family boards.
Once it lands in Georgia, there is another ceremony, then the journey to Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, for a private funeral service.
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood Sing John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’
Country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are singing their arrangement of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” which they also sang at Rosalynn Carter’s Atlanta funeral in 2023.
Biden Applaud’s Carter’s Character
Biden began his remarks by recalling how his relationship with Carter began, by endorsing the Georgian ahead of the 1976 presidential campaign.
Repeating “character” several times as Carter’s chief attribute, Biden said the former president taught him the imperative that “everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.”
“We have an obligation to give hate no safe harbor,” Biden said, also noting the importance of standing up to “abuse in power.”
Carter’s Grandson Describes Family House
Carter describing his grandparents and their house: “Walls papered with pictures of children and great-grandchildren.”
“They had a little rack next to the sink where they’d hang Ziploc bags to dry.“Carter, he said, “Eventually did get a cell phone.”
“They were small-town people who never forgot who they were and where they were from no matter what happened in their lives. … But I realize we are not here because he was just a regular guy.”
Foreign Dignitaries in Attendance
In addition to U.S. political leaders, there are also a number of foreign dignitaries in attendance, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau—who recently announced his resignation—Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Son of Carter’s Old Running Mate Honors the Late ex President
Ted Mondale, son of the late Vice President Walter Mondale, rose to read a letter from his father in honor of his former running mate.
Walter Mondale wrote that he was “surprised” that Carter asked him to be his running mate for the 1976 campaign, saying that his only requests were that he make a real contribution to the team, and not be “embarrassed, as many of my predecessors had.”
Mondale wrote that Carter “protected” him from “humiliation” faced by other vice presidents.
Top Biden Officials Attend Service
Among Biden White House officials attending Carter’s funeral are chief of staff Jeff Zients, climate adviser John Podesta and Tom Perez, director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Carter’s Funeral Procession Begins
The funeral procession of Carter has begun, with a crucifer, torch bearers—typical of an Episcopal church procession—as well as representatives of all branches of the U.S. military.
Order of Ceremony for Carter’s State Funeral
This is the order of ceremony for Carter’s service, according to the White House.
Joshua Carter reads the First Lesson (Romans 8:1-18, 38-39)
Steven Ford delivers remarks
Ted Mondale delivers remarks
The Armed Forces Chorus, the U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra, and the Cathedral Choir perform “Eternal Father, Strong to Save.”
Stuart Eizenstat delivers remarks
Jason Carter delivers remarks
Phyllis Adams and Leila Bolden perform “Song Rise to Thee.”
The U.S. Marine Orchestra performs “Amazing The President
James Carter delivers the Gospel reading (Matthew 5:1-16)
Reverend Andrew Young delivers the homily
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood perform “Imagine.”
The Lord’s Prayer
The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde and Reverend Anthony Lowden deliver The Prayers
The Most Reverend Sean Rowe, The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, and The Very Reverend Randolph Marshall Hollerith deliver
the Commendation
The Most Reverend Sean Rowe delivers the Blessing
The Very Reverend Randolph Marshall Hollerith delivers the Dismissal
Dismissal song “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.”
Carter’s Casket Removed from Hearse
Carter’s casket is being removed from the hearse and being positioned for delivery into Washington National Cathedral.
Biden and the First Lady Sit Next to Harris and the Second Gentleman
Biden and his wife Jill are taking their seats next to Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff. There were no visible greetings, but the former presidents were all just together in a private room ahead of their entrances into Washington National Cathedral.
Former Presidents and Spouses Sit Near Each Other
Other former presidents and their wives are being seated just down the row from Trump, including George W. Bush and his wife, former first lady Laura Bush.
As she and her husband entered, former first lady Hillary Clinton walked around the end of the row on which Trump was sitting, going first to greet Bush and others.
Trump and Melania Enter Cathedral
Trump and his wife, Melania, are entering Washington National Cathedral and being ushered to their seats.
Congressional Leaders Attend Carter’s Funeral
Congressional leaders are also in attendance as they await the start of Carter’s funeral.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is seated next to House Speaker Mike Johnson, both Republicans. Democratic leaders are also in Washington National Cathedral, including House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
Carter’s Casket Arrives
Carter’s casket has arrived at the Washington National Cathedral, met by an honor guard hoisting flags rippling in the cold wind. Snow from a recent winter storm that gripped the nation’s capital is still visible on rooftops and grounds, sparkling in the sunlight.
Carter’s Orocession Passes White House
Carter’s funeral procession has just passed by the White House, which he once called home during his term as president.
Biden’s Motorcade Arrives at Washington National Cathedral
President Biden’s motorcade has arrived to the Washington National Cathedral. Members of the British embassy lined Massachusetts Avenue outside the building as Biden’s motorcade passed by.
Carter’s Casket Placed into Hearse
Carter’s casket has been placed into a hearse, which will take his body to Washington National Cathedral.
On a frosty morning in the nation’s capital, relatives and Special Honor Guard members have donned gloves and ear muffs, as a stiff wind whips flags that accompany the former president’s body.
Schedule for Final Day of Funeral Rites for President Jimmy Carter
9 a.m.—Carter’s casket departs the U.S. Capitol. The funeral motorcade travels to Washington National Cathedral.
9:30 a.m.—Carter’s motorcade arrives at Washington National Cathedral.
10 a.m.—The Washington funeral begins. Expected speakers include Steve Ford, reading remarks written by his father, former President Gerald Ford, before his death; Ted Mondale, reading remarks from his father, former Vice President Walter Mondale, before his death; former Carter adviser Stu Eizenstat; Jason Carter, one of Jimmy Carter’s sons; and President Joe Biden.
11:15 a.m.—Carter’s remains and his family depart the cathedral for Joint Base Andrews.
11:45 a.m.—They board Special Air Mission 39, the plane that serves as Air Force One when the sitting president is on board.
2 p.m.—Special Air Mission 39 arrives at Lawson Army Airfield at Fort Moore, Georgia. Carter’s remains will be transferred with ceremony to the hearse. Carter and his family then travel to Plains by motorcade.
3:30 p.m.—Motorcade arrives at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains.
3:45 p.m.—An invitation-only funeral at the church begins.
4:45 p.m.—A motorcade takes participants from the church to the Carter residence.
5:20 p.m.—A U.S. Navy missing man formation conducts a flyover in honor of Carter’s naval service and time as commander in chief, followed by a private graveside ceremony and interment.
Carter State Funeral to be Held at National Cathedral
After lying in state at the U.S. Capitol for two days, former President Jimmy Carter will be honored with an official state funeral at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 9.
The invite-only service will be attended by dignitaries and members of Carter’s family. Attendees are expected to include all five living presidents, including President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump.
Carter died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100—the longest-living former president in U.S. history.
Biden, who served in the Senate during Carter’s presidency, will give the eulogy.
The president is expected to talk about Carter’s career inside and outside the White House, such as brokering the Camp David Accords, in which Egypt agreed to normalize ties with Israel, Hofstra University political science professor Meena Bose told The Epoch Times.
Kimberly Martin Tecklenburg, a political science professor at Georgia Southern University, said speakers are likely to discuss Carter’s work through Habitat for Humanity after leaving the White House.
The solemn procession of Carter’s casket from the Capitol Rotunda, where he has laid in state since Jan. 7, to the Washington National Cathedral will begin at 9 a.m. ET on Jan. 9 as members of the military will take the coffin down the Capitol steps and put it in a hearse for the 24-minute drive. Upon arrival at the Gothic cathedral, the casket will be carried inside by members of the military.
Following the service, which is scheduled to last an hour or so, Carter and his family members will fly from Joint Base Andrews for his final trip back home to Georgia.
Epoch Times reporter Jackson Richman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
