Posted on 01/02/2007 5:41:07 AM PST by Mo1
WASHINGTON — Gerald R. Ford leaves his beloved U.S. Capitol for the last time Tuesday as the period set aside for ordinary Americans to say goodbye gives way to an elaborate invitation-only funeral at the awe-inspiring Washington National Cathedral.
As the first order of business Tuesday, Ford's remains were being removed from the Rotunda to lie in repose briefly outside the Senate before leaving the Capitol where Ford served as a congressman for 25 years. As vice president, Ford also had the constitutional title of president of the Senate.
Watch streaming live video at 9:15 a.m. ET on FOXNews.com.
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On Eagle's Wings along with Ave Maria reduces me to tears.
It's lovely. We Episcopalians know how to do a good funeral. ;) And there was a sad shot of Betty gazing at the coffin. It's hard to picture her clinging to the coffin, unable to tear herself away, like Nancy did. I'm not saying Nancy's feelings weren't genuine, just that I think Betty has more innate restraint.
Oh, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God", another of my favorites.
I'm sure there are many differences between them. A Mighty Fortress is a great recessional selection.
It doesn't seem fair that that should be the reward for a long, successful marriage, does it? :-]
No, it doesn't. May God uphold her through the days ahead.
I remember someone at my company teaching on how to give briefings; he said not to stun people with statistics without drawing a conclusion from them. Here is the example he gave:
50% of marriages end in divorce
50% of marriages end in death
Conclusion: Marriage Always Ends Badly. :)
No, it doesn't.
Here is what follows (according to Dolphy's link):
1:30 p.m.: Remains arrive at the church with ceremony. Following the 2 p.m. service, the remains will depart the church with ceremony.
3 p.m.: The remains will proceed to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum for a private interment service.
3:30 p.m.: Service and burial. During the service, a 21-aircraft flyover in missing-man formation will fly south to north up the Grand River.
A fly-over will be breath-taking.
President Ford's was the first campaign I ever volunteered for, as part of a high school politics class. There were 4 of us who would hit campaign HQ's to help with yard sign distribution. (And it really ticked-off our very liberal teacher who didn't think that anyone would fill her mandatory service requirement, by taking part in a Republican campaign in the year 1976!)
Darn .. working and missed Rummy's speech, which I badly want to hear. If you know when it'll be replayed or IF it will,
please let me know.
What was your overall impression? He looked so grieved
in DC at Ford's casket.
I missed it all too. I'm devastated that I missed it. I hope somebody replays it.
It was a very good speech...(I am partial to Rummy's speeches, so I am a bit prejudiced)...
He sniffed a lot...and I don't know if it was from a cold, or if it was from emotion.
I am sure that it will be replayed tonight on C-span...but, I will watch out for it..and ping you.
Carter spoke after him...and Carter sounded like he was giving his own resume, with a few anecdotal stories about Pres. Ford thrown in....but the only time I gritted my teeth was when Carter said that he and Pres. Ford discussed religion and that they BOTH felt that sexual preferences and women's rights should not be a divisive issue...
That may or may not be true...but I didn't feel it was necessary in a eulogy..
It reminded me of Ron Reagan bringing up federal funding of embryonic stem cell research during the eulogy for his Dad.
they usually do later on at night...
Thanks Tina. I'm watching snippets of it on FOX now. It appears I may have trouble watching Carter since I gritted my teeth to the breaking point just watching the brief snippet I just witnessed.
I, too, would like to hear Rummy's speech.
They just announced that the last part of the ceremony would be Vice President Cheney presenting the flag on the casket to Mrs. Ford.
You know, if we had predicted that yesterday people would have told us we were being mean-spirited.
at the risk of being flamed, as much as I cannot stomach the man, it wasn't as bad as I expected except for the part Txsleuth mentioned, and Carter seemed upset at the end. I guess they and their families were friendlier than anybody knew, he made President Ford's family laugh and cry.
I was thinking, while watching the services, that the state funeral must be very difficult for the family in some ways. It is difficult enough to keep one's composure, but the multiple services, the travel, the ever-present media-- it must be a strain, physically and emotionally, especially given the age of the widows. That is a lot of strain on top of losing one's spouse. I hope that they both take comfort in the expressions of respect and affection that accompany the multiple services.
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