The Fords' Funerals At The Museum
Following Gerald Ford's death on December 26, 2006, thousands of people paid tribute to the President on the grounds of the museum. Visitors created a spontaneous memorial with candles, flags, flowers, and handwritten notes at the Pearl Street entrance. During the night of January 2, 2007, through the morning of January 3, approximately 60,000 people viewed the casket as Ford lay in repose in the museum lobby. On January 3, Ford’s body was taken to Grace Episcopal Church in East Grand Rapids for a funeral service. During the service, former President Jimmy Carter, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and historian Richard Norton Smith gave eulogies. Following the service, President Ford was interred on the museum grounds.
After Betty Ford's death on July 8, 2011, the museum closed the following day to prepare for her funeral. Throughout the closure, the lobby remained open for guests to sign a condolence book Later that day, the Ford family announced that her casket would be returned to Grand Rapids and be in repose at the museum for public visitation from the evening of July 13 through noon July 14 when a service was held at Grace Episcopal Church. After the service, the casket was returned to the museum for burial next to her husband.
Read more about this topic: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
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