State Funeral Arrangements Announced for Former President Jimmy Carter
The flag-draped casket bearing the remains of President George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the United States, rests on the altar during the state funeral service held in his honor at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC on December 5, 2018. Military and civilian personnel assigned to JTF-NCR provided ceremonial and civil affairs support during Bush's state funeral (Official Department of Defense Photo by Kathy Reesey).
President Biden declared January 9th a National Day of Mourning for Former President Jimmy Carter; the longest lived president in United States history.
Article by Georgia Simon, Assistant White House Editor
WASHINGTON - Former President Jimmy Carter died on Dec. 29th at age 100 in his hometown of Plains, Georgia surrounded by his family. His death was announced by The Carter Center saying “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia.”
President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden released a statement following the announcement of his death, encouraging people and especially younger generations to not forget the lasting impact Carter had on American politics.
“And to all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” the statement said. “He showed that we are great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.”
President Biden has declared a National Day of Mourning on Jan. 9th as well as the closure of all federal departments and agencies. U.S. flags have also been ordered to fly at half-staff for 30 days.
The start of Carter's funeral will begin on Jan. 4th, with a ride through his hometown of Plains by motorcade. They will stop at his family's farm and then the National Park Service “will honor the late president with a salute and ringing of the historic farm bell 39 times” according to a schedule released by the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region and The U.S. Army Military District of Washington.
The motorcade then will drive to Atlanta where they will stop at the state capitol for a moment of silence by Gov. Brian Kempt, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and more. From there, he will be carried into the Carter Presidential Center for a private service before lying in Repose for the public to come and show their respects until the morning of Jan. 7th.
Come Jan. 7th, President Carter will then be flown to Washington D.C. and taken to the U.S. Navy Memorial where a funeral procession marches down Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenue to the Capitol. From there, a service will be held in the Rotunda, within the Capitol, where members of Congress can pay their respects. At 7 p.m., lying in state will be open to the public until early Jan. 9th.
On the morning of the funeral, President Carter will depart the Capitol for Washington National Cathedral where the national funeral service will be held from 10 -11 a.m. Both President Biden and President-Elect Trump will be in attendance. Biden is also expected to be eulogizing Carter at the service.
Following the Washington funeral, Carter will be taken back home to Georgia for a private service in Plains at Maranatha Baptist Church, the same place former First Lady Rosalynn Carter had a funeral service as well as where the 39th president taught Sunday school.
Carter's final goodbye to his hometown will take place after as he rides via motorcade through Plains. The U.S. Navy will then perform a missing man formation flyover before a private interment back at his residence to end the day of mourning.