Death and State Funeral of Gerald Ford - Events in Grand Rapids

Events in Grand Rapids

Following the service in the Washington National Cathedral, Ford's body was taken to Andrews Air Force Base on January 2 for a flight to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan on SAM 29000, one of the two VC-25A aircraft which currently serves as Air Force One. En route the plane descended to very low altitude and flew over Ford's alma mater, the University of Michigan and Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, where Ford played center on Michigan's college football team in 1932–1934.

Upon arrival in Grand Rapids, the University of Michigan Marching Band played Ruffles and Flourishes, Hail to the Chief, Michigan's Alma Mater "The Yellow and Blue", and Michigan's fight song The Victors, and a 21-gun salute was rendered as President Ford's body was transferred from the aircraft to the waiting hearse. President Ford's remains were then taken by motorcade to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids. A private service was conducted in the Museum. The presidents of the University of Michigan and Yale University, representing President Ford's college and law school education, laid wreaths, Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell gave the invocation, and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and Martin J. Allen, Jr., Chairman Emeritus of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation, spoke. "Shall We Gather At The River" was sung by The Army Chorus, and prayers were offered by Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell. Also present for the service were the four remaining members of the 30/30 Club, consisting of President Ford's championship high school football team.

On Tuesday night (January 2), President Ford's casket lay in repose in the lobby of the museum where an estimated 67,000 mourners, despite the cold winter temperatures, stood in line for up to 6 hours in order to pay their respects to his casket. Several of President and Mrs. Ford's children and grandchildren came to the museum that night and greeted mourners for several hours.

Shortly after noon on January 3, the casket was taken from the museum to Grace Episcopal Church by motorcade, and a funeral service was conducted at Grace Episcopal Church in East Grand Rapids. Along the entire motorcade route to the church, thousands of people gathered to say farewell and pay their respects.

During the service, eulogies were delivered by Donald Rumsfeld (President Ford's White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of Defense), President Jimmy Carter, Richard Norton Smith (former Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum and a close personal friend of President Ford), President Bush, and Vice President Cheney. Prayers were offered by Sarah Ford Goodfellow, Tyne Vance Berlanga, and Christian Gerald Ford, grandchildren of President and Mrs. Ford. The Army Chorus sang "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic" and a solo of "On Eagle's Wings" sung by Sergeant First Class Alvy Powell. One pew was draped with a University of Michigan stadium blanket in honor of legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, who was to be an honorary pallbearer for President Ford but died two months earlier.

After the church service, President Ford's remains were transported back to the museum and carried to the burial spot on a hillside just north of the museum. A small group of invited friends joined Mrs. Ford and the family at the Interment Service, including Vice President and Mrs. Richard Cheney, President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter, former Secretary and Mrs. Rumsfeld, Ann Cullen, Len Nurmi, Penny Circle, Richard Norton Smith, Gregory Willard, Ann Willard, and Ms. Lilian Fisher. The 126th Army Band from the National Guard Unit based in Wyoming, Michigan performed during the Interment Service. A 21-gun salute was completed by the 119th Field Artillery Regiment, the only such unit in the state of Michigan. After the salute, a benediction was given. Three volleys from seven rifles were then fired, followed by the playing of "Taps" by Sergeant Major Woodrow English. As "Taps" was sounded, 21 F-15E's from Seymour Johnson AFB in North Carolina did a south-to-north missing man flyby of the casket just as the sun began to set on the western horizon. The flag over the casket was then folded and presented to Mrs. Ford by Vice President Cheney, at which point media coverage of the Interment Service, by prior request of the Ford family, concluded.

After the Interment Service, Mrs. Ford and her family and President Ford's brother, Dick Ford, spent a few moments at the casket and then proceeded inside the Museum. Vice President and Mrs. Cheney, President and Mrs. Carter, and former Secretary and Mrs. Rumsfeld approached the casket together for their final farewells. They then proceeded inside the Museum with Mrs. Ford. Lilian Fisher, Ann Cullen, Leonard Nurmi, Penny Circle, Richard Norton Smith, Gregory Willard, Ann Willard, Douglas "Chip" Emery, Richard Garbarino, Michael Wagner, Janice Hart, and Carol Buck were individually escorted to the casket. As a special tribute to First Sergeant Alvy Powell of the Army Chorus and his thirty years of friendship with President and Mrs. Ford, Sergeant Powell was escorted by Greg Willard to the casket where he paid his final respects. Honorary Pallbearers Martin Allen, Richard DeVos, Robert Hooker, Jack Nicklaus, Fred Meijer, Leon Parma, Dr. Mary Sue Coleman, David Frey, and the other Honorary Pallbearers and spouses then approached the casket, along with Shelli Archibald, Jordan Lewis, Lee Simmons, Jeannete Simmons, and other guests. Later that evening, members of the Army Chorus were accompanied by Michael Wagner to the casket, where each of them paid his respects.

Before departing Grand Rapids the following afternoon, Mrs. Ford and her family returned to President Ford's tomb. In front of the tomb was a large bouquet of flowers that had been prepared from individual flowers taken from bouquets and other floral tributes placed by members of the public earlier in the week.