Vice President Kamala Harris and congressional leaders have eulogized the late President Jimmy Carter for his unwavering faith, humility, and service to the nation.
Nearly 44 years after departing the capital in political defeat, Carter was commemorated with solemn ceremonies that underscored his enduring legacy as a leader who bridged divides and championed human dignity. He returned to Washington on Tuesday for three days of state funeral rites.
Carter’s remains, which had rested at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, traveled to the nation’s capital aboard Special Air Mission 39, accompanied by his family, AP reported. The journey began with military honors in Georgia, where pallbearers carried his flag-draped casket to a waiting plane amid a cannon salute. Upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, the casket was transported by motorcade to the Capitol, where members of Congress, cabinet officials, and Supreme Court justices gathered to pay their respects.
Inside the Capitol Rotunda, Carter’s casket was placed on the Lincoln catafalque, the historic platform built in 1865 for President Abraham Lincoln’s funeral. Eulogies delivered by Harris, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and House Speaker Mike Johnson celebrated Carter’s lifelong dedication to service, his humility, and his hands-on approach to helping others, including his Habitat for Humanity efforts.
“Jimmy Carter was that rare leader who combined immense capability with profound humility,” Harris said, praising his ability to connect personally with voters and his unpretentious leadership style.
The ceremony featured the U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club, which performed the patriotic hymn “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” and the placement of bipartisan wreaths near the casket as members of Carter’s family stood visibly moved. Carter’s unique ties to the U.S. Navy were also honored, as his hearse paused at the Navy Memorial before his casket was transferred to a horse-drawn caisson for the final leg of its journey to the Capitol.
Carter, who passed away on December 29 at the age of 100, will lie in state until Wednesday, followed by a state funeral Thursday at Washington National Cathedral, where President Joe Biden is set to deliver a eulogy. The ceremonies blend traditional presidential tributes with elements reflecting Carter’s personal values, including hymns like “Amazing Grace” and “Blessed Assurance,” which were played as a nod to his Baptist faith.
While Carter’s legacy is being celebrated, the day was not without controversy. President-elect Donald Trump, at a Florida news conference, revisited Carter’s decision to cede control of the Panama Canal, reigniting a long-standing critique of his presidency. “I liked him as a man, but I disagreed with his policies,” Trump said, briefly diverting attention from the solemnity of the occasion.
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