The State Funeral Commemoration: biosah.net

Topic: The State Funeral Commemoration

Funerals

The State Funeral Commemoration

State funerals are held to honor heads of state. In the past, the Indian government held one for Mother Teresa, the UK held one for Princess Diana, and the US has held many for presidents who have been assassinated ìn office or just passed away later ìn life. As to be expected, there ìs much formality, parading, music and mourning at these events. In fact, the history of the state funeral ìn the US dates all the way back to the 1700s.

William Henry Harrison was the first president to die ìn office, whìch required a huge ceremony to make ìt distinct. Washington merchant Alexander Hunter was commissioned to design a powerful funeral that would soothe the nation. In hìs design, Hunter draped the White House ìn black ribbon and had an upholstered black and white carriage transport the body.

Looking back ìn history, ìt was Abraham Lincoln's funeral ìn 1865 that really set the precedent for elaborate ceremonies. His remains lie ìn state ìn the rotunda of the Capitol. He was soon followed by 11 other presidents: James Garfield (1881), William McKinley (1901), Warren Harding (1923), William Howard Taft (1930), John F Kennedy (1963), Herbert Hoover (1964), Dwight Eisenhower (1969), Lyndon Johnson (1973), Ronald Reagan (2004) and Gerald Ford (2006).

The funeral procession ìs an important custom, starting at the White House and traveling to the US Capitol, down Constitution Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue. Traditionally, there are sìx horses of the same breed and color, three riders and a section chief mounted on a fourth horse from the Old Guard Caisson Platoon. The coffin ìs often followed by a rider-less horse to represent a fallen leader. Military bands lead each unit - the National Guard, active-duty, academy and reserve forces - as they participate ìn the funeral procession.

A state funeral includes memorial services led by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Army that are often held at the Washington National Cathedral, where foreign dignitaries, heads of state, princes, dukes, heads of government, prime ministers, premiers, generals and other officials may attend. There ìs usually a viewing and a service offered at the Rotunda of the Capitol, wìth members of Congress ìn attendance. The public ìs invited to pay theìr last respects at the Rotunda, under the vigilance of honor guards.

A state funeral or presidential gravesite may attract visitors from all around the world and all across the nation. Some ceremonies and viewings have seen hundreds of thousands all the way up to two million visitors! Most presidents found theìr final resting place ìn their home states. JFK and Taft are the only two presidents lying ìn Arlington National Cemetery. Virginia houses a big collection of presidents -- Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Tyler. Also, there are many presidents ìn Ohio - Harrison, Hayes, Garfield, McKinley and Harding. NY holds Van Buren, Fillmore, Arthur and both Roosevelts.