WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former President Jimmy Carter completed his final journey to the nation’s capital on Tuesday.
Carter will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda through Thursday 7 a.m. before his state funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral.
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People in Atlanta had the chance to say their goodbyes to the former president while he was lying in repose at the Carter Center over the weekend.
What’s the difference between lying in state and lying in repose?
According to the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, lying in state occurs “when the casket of a member of government (or former member of government) is placed on view in the principal government building of a country or state to allow the public to pay their respects.”
Lying in repose meanwhile is when the casket is “placed on view in any other building to allow the public to pay their respects.”
What is lying in honor?
There is also what’s called “lying in honor” and there are two scenarios, according to the JTF-NCR:
- When the casket of an individual who is not a member of government is placed on view in the principal government building of a country or state to allow the public to pay their respects. An example would be Rosa Parks in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
- When the casket of a member of government (or former member of government) is placed on view in the U.S. Capitol, but not in the Capitol Rotunda, to allow the public to pay their respects. Examples include Senator Robert Byrd and Senator Frank Lautenberg lying in honor in the Senate Chamber.
The Architect of the Capitol states that for a person to lie in state or in honor at the Capitol, it must be approved through a congressional resolution or by congressional leadership.
Who else from Georgia has been honored at the U.S. Capitol?
The late Georgia U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who represented U.S. District 5 in Atlanta, was remembered at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda after his death in July 2020. He was lying in state from July 27-28 in Washington, D.C.
Decorated U.S. Army Ranger Ralph Puckett Jr. was lying in honor at the Capitol Rotunda on April 29, 2024. Puckett Jr. died on April 8, 2024 in Columbus, Ga. and was the last living Korean War Medal of Honor recipient.
Jimmy Carter State Funeral Plan
THURSDAY, JAN. 9, 2025
7 a.m. – Lying in State concludes.
8:45 a.m. – The Carter Family departs from Blair House by motorcade.
9 a.m. – A departure ceremony from the U.S. Capitol.
9:15 a.m. – The motorcade departs for Washington National Cathedral.
9:30 a.m. – Carter and his family arrive at the Washington National Cathedral.
9:55 a.m. – Carter’s remains are carried into the cathedral during a brief arrival ceremony.
10 a.m. – National Funeral Service.
11 a.m. – A departure ceremony from Washington National Cathedral.
11:15 a.m. – The motorcade departs for Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
11:45 a.m. – The late president and his family arrive at Joint Base Andrews and board Special Air Mission 39 after a brief departure ceremony.
12:15 p.m. – Special Air Mission 39 departs for Lawson Army Airfield, Fort Moore, Georgia.
2 p.m. – Special Air Mission 39 arrives at Lawson Army Airfield and Carter’s remains are transferred with ceremony to the hearse.
2:30 p.m. – The motorcade departs for Maranatha Baptist Church, Plains, Georgia.
3:30 p.m. – An arrival ceremony at Maranatha Baptist Church.
3:45 p.m. – Private funeral service.
4:30 p.m. – A departure ceremony from Maranatha Baptist Church.
4:45 p.m. – The late president and his family travel by motorcade through downtown Plains. The public is invited to line the motorcade route as Carter makes his final journey through his beloved hometown.
5:20 p.m. – The motorcade arrives at the Carter residence for a private interment. Prior to interment, the U.S. Navy will conduct a missing man formation flyover in honor of former President Carter’s naval service and time as commander-in-chief shortly after the motorcade’s arrival at the residence.
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