The late U.S. president Jimmy Carter was honored with a somber and dignified military ceremony as his remains were transported to the U.S. Capitol. There, he will lie in state until the national funeral scheduled for later this week.
Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29 at the remarkable age of 100, served as president from 1977 to 1981. He gained widespread acclaim not just for his time in the White House but also for his humanitarian work after leaving office, recognized globally when he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
His remains arrived at the U.S. Capitol, blanketed in snow, where they will stay until tomorrow. This journey began in Carter’s home state of Georgia and unfolded over a full day filled with tributes.
Members of the public gathered in the Capitol Visitor Center, forming a line to pay their respects to President Carter.
According to a live broadcast by PBS, crowds moved gracefully through the rotunda, stopping here and there to silently honor the late president, many with their hands joined in reflection.
In a heartfelt statement, a representative from the Department of Defense remarked, “On behalf of the entire Department of Defence, we join the Carter family and all Americans in celebrating this extraordinary life, legacy, and service to our nation.”
Flown aboard a U.S. Air Force jet, Mr. Carter’s casket draped in the national flag was transported on a gun carriage. The funeral procession traveled from the U.S. Navy Memorial—a nod to Carter’s service on submarines—to Capitol Hill, mimicking the route taken during his inauguration parade.
Accompanied by hundreds of service members, the procession advanced along Pennsylvania Avenue, recently cleared of snow from a winter storm that had caused closures of federal offices and schools in the area.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a moving eulogy during the memorial service for the late president.
Military pallbearers then carried his casket into the Capitol Rotunda where a brief ceremony took place. Attendees included family members, congressional representatives, Chief Justice John Roberts, and Vice President Harris.
Mr. Carter became the 13th former U.S. president to lie in state at the Capitol, following in the footsteps of notable predecessors like Abraham Lincoln, who was the first to receive such an honor after his assassination in 1865.
This ceremony carried even more weight as it happened just a day after the anniversary of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, when supporters of former President Donald Trump attempted to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory.
On that eventful day, Congress certified Biden’s win over Harris without incident, all under a security blanket that ensured smooth proceedings.
The casket of Jimmy Carter was carefully borne by military bearers into the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
A state funeral service is planned at the National Cathedral, an Episcopal church in Washington known for hosting tributes to other former presidents such as Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and George H.W. Bush.
President Biden is set to deliver the eulogy, honoring his fellow Democrat.
All four living ex-presidents—Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump—are expected to be in attendance.
Recognizing this moment of national significance, Biden has declared Thursday a day of mourning, leading to the closure of federal government offices.
In a traditional gesture of respect, he instructed flags to be flown at half-staff for the next 30 days, a decision that was met with some criticism, especially as it coincides with Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
Mr. Carter, the first U.S. president to celebrate a 100th birthday, had been receiving hospice care since February 2023 in his beloved hometown of Plains, Georgia. He will be laid to rest next to his late wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in a final resting place that reflects his deep-rooted connection to family and community.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
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