State funeral

A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony held to honour heads of state or other important people of national significance. They usually include much pomp and ceremony.

United States

In the U.S., state funerals are granted by law to presidents and other individuals designated by the president. While tradition and protocol greatly influence the funeral planning, the exact sequence of events is largely determined by the family of the deceased. This decision is made once a president leaves office.

Related Topics:
Presidents - Protocol

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History and development

The pomp and circumstance of state funerals were eschewed by the founding fathers who believed them to be too reminiscent of British rule. The first general mourning proclaimed in America was on the death of Benjamin Franklin in 1790 and the next on the death of George Washington in 1799. Though public mournings were held all over the country for George Washington, his funeral was a local affair in Mount Vernon. The first major funeral ceremony was for William Henry Harrison, the first president to die in office. Alexander Hunter, a Washington merchant, was commissioned to design the ceremony. He had the White House draped in black ribbon and ordered a curtained and upholstered black and white carriage to carry the casket.

Related Topics:
British - Benjamin Franklin - 1790 - George Washington - 1799 - Mount Vernon - William Henry Harrison - White House

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However, it was not until the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865 that the United States experienced a nationwide period of mourning, made possible by advances in communications technologies — train and telegraph. Lincoln was the first U.S. president to lie in state in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. Ceremonies conducted henceforth have been based on Lincoln's funeral. To date, ten presidents have been honored by having their remains lie in state (on the same black catafalque built for Lincoln) in the rotunda with a ceremonial honor guard to attend them.

Related Topics:
Assassination - Abraham Lincoln - 1865 - Train - Telegraph - President - Rotunda - U.S. Capitol

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Major components

Funeral processions in the nation's capital have honored ten presidents, including the four who were assassinated.

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Most state funerals include Armed Forces pallbearers, various 21-gun salutes, renditions by military bands and choirs, a military chaplain for the immediate family, and a flag-draped casket as a veteran's honor.

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Presidents who die in office lie in repose in the East Room of the White House. Former presidents lie in repose in their home state before traveling to Washington, D.C..

Related Topics:
Lie in repose - White House - Washington, D.C.

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A ceremonial funeral procession in a caisson (drawn by six horses of the same color, three riders and a section chief mounted on a separate horse from the Old Guard Caisson Platoon) is a traditional component of a state funeral observance. The procession begins in sight of the White House and travels to the U.S. Capitol. For former presidents, the casket is transferred to the caisson at 16th St. and Constitution Avenue before the South Lawn and the procession moves down Constitution Avenue, but for sitting presidents, the casket is transferred at the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance of the mansion and the procession moves down Pennsylvania Avenue. (Pennsylvania Ave. in front of the White House has been closed since the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.) The procession is composed of National Guard, active-duty, academy, and reserve personnel that represent the five branches of the United States armed forces and the casket is followed by a riderless horse. Each march unit is led by a service band. The procession usually ends at the east front of the U.S. Capitol.

Related Topics:
Caisson - Constitution Avenue - Pennsylvania Avenue - Oklahoma City bombing - 1995 - United States armed forces - Riderless horse - Service band

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Upon the casket's arrival at the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol a short service (the official "state funeral") is given with members of Congress present.

Related Topics:
Rotunda - Congress

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Afterwards, the late president's body lies in state for public viewing. Although lying in state continues through the night, it differs from lying in repose. The honor guard, whose members represent each of the armed services, maintain a vigil over the remains throughout the period of time the remains lie in state. Public viewing is allowed continuously during the lying in state until one hour before the departure ceremony.

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A national memorial service is held in Washington, D.C. It is usually held at Washington National Cathedral or at another church or cathedral, if the family requests, with various foreign dignitaries and government officials attending. On the matter of seating arrangements for the funeral, the presidential party is followed by heads of state, arranged alphabetically by the English spelling of their countries. Royalty representing heads of state, such as princes and dukes, come next, followed by heads of government, such as prime ministers and premiers. During the ceremony, generals sit in the north nave, family members in the south nave, if the ceremony is held at Washington National Cathedral.

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Immediately after the service is completed, the body travels to its final resting place for interment.

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Before the mid-20th Century, the body was moved long distances by funeral train procession, where thousands of citizens would line the railroad tracks to pay their last respects. Transport in recent decades between the deceased president's home state and Washington, D.C. has been by one of the jets usually used as Air Force One. Arrivals and departures are usually met with 21-gun salutes.

Related Topics:
Air Force One - 21-gun salutes

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Even as state funerals are steeped in tradition, there was a new element in Ronald Reagan's: a massive security operation. This was because the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated it a National Special Security Event (NSSE). Attorney General John Ashcroft said before the funeral: "It is a sad commentary when the observation of a memorial service for a former president of the United States must be labled a national security special event. Such is the fact of modern life in Washington and such is the nature of the war against al Qaeda."

Related Topics:
Ronald Reagan - Department of Homeland Security - National Special Security Event - John Ashcroft - War against al Qaeda

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The most famous state funeral in the U.S. was that of John F. Kennedy in 1963, resulting from his assassination.

Related Topics:
John F. Kennedy - 1963 - His assassination

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Funeral arrangements

State funerals are usually planned years earlier. Each living U. S. president—current or former—is required to have funeral plans in place upon becoming president. These details become more important upon leaving office, as it reduces stress for the president's family in an era of worldwide electronic media scrutiny.

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The Military District of Washington (MDW) has primary responsibility in conducting the ceremony and goes by a 138-page planning document. The commanding general of the MDW appoints an Armed Forces team to provide security for the presidential remains, whether they be lying in state or in a church or other location.

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