Death and State Funeral of Gerald Ford - Events in Washington

Events in Washington

The events in Washington, D.C., began on December 30, 2006, when Ford's body, flown aboard the Presidential VC-25A SAM 29000 Boeing 747, arrived at Andrews Air Force Base that evening. From there, it was driven by hearse in a simple procession, passing through Alexandria, Virginia, to pay tribute to where he lived when in the House, into the capital city, pausing by the National World War II Memorial to pay tribute to his service as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy during World War II, and onto Capitol Hill. At the World War II Memorial, Eagle Scouts stood along the street for a short distance, in honor of President Ford's status as an Eagle Scout. In addition, Ford was piped aboard, a Navy tradition used to honor senior officers.

Female alumnae of United States Military Academies joined in an elongated salute in tribute to Ford. Ford signed legislation in 1976 that allowed women to attend the Military Academies.

President Ford's family honored his wishes to have details of his funeral made as simple as possible. As such, a hearse was utilized en route to the Capitol, rather than having the sometimes utilized horse-drawn caisson.

Read more about this topic:  Death And State Funeral Of Gerald Ford

Famous quotes containing the words events in, events and/or washington:

    Whatever events in progress shall disgust men with cities, and infuse into them the passion for country life, and country pleasures, will render a service to the whole face of this continent, and will further the most poetic of all the occupations of real life, the bringing out by art the native but hidden graces of the landscape.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    The prime lesson the social sciences can learn from the natural sciences is just this: that it is necessary to press on to find the positive conditions under which desired events take place, and that these can be just as scientifically investigated as can instances of negative correlation. This problem is beyond relativity.
    Ruth Benedict (1887–1948)

    ... what a strange time it was! Who knew his neighbor? Who was a traitor and who a patriot? The hero of to-day was the suspected of to-morrow.... There were traitors in the most secret council-chambers. Generals, senators, and secretaries looked at each other with suspicious eyes.... It is a great wonder that the city of Washington was not betrayed, burned, destroyed a half-dozen times.
    M. E. W. Sherwood (1826–1903)