The remains of former US President Jimmy Carter have been transported to the Capitol in Washington. Many elected officials from both camps in the American Congress paid him a final tribute.
Jimmy Carter’s body returned to Washington for a final ceremony at the Capitol. His casket was flown from his home state of Georgia, where he had been resting at the Carter Presidential Center since Saturday.
The 39th President of the United States returned to the country’s capital nearly 44 years after his defeat in the 1980 US election for a final tribute. Moved, dozens of people gathered in front of the barricades to witness the moment his coffin entered the Capitol building.
A motorcade carried his casket to Washington for a final journey to the Capitol, where members of Congress held a ceremony to pay their respects.
A bipartisan delegation of members of Congress was led into the Capitol rotunda by Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, Democrats who represent Carter’s home state.
Vice President Kamala Harris, other members of President Joe Biden’s Cabinet and three of the nine U.S. Supreme Court justices were also in attendance.
The U.S. Army Band’s brass quintet played as people waited for the casket. Silence fell when three knocks were knocked on the rotunda door to mark the arrival of the late president. The casket was placed in the middle of the room on the Lincoln catafalque, a platform built in 1865 to accommodate the casket of President Abraham Lincoln in the same location.
Ms. Harris, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson delivered eulogies celebrating Mr. Carter’s faith, accomplishments, military service and dedication to service. of the nation.
“Today we gather to bid a final farewell to Jimmy Carter. Navy veteran, peanut farmer, governor of Georgia. And president of the United States. Sunday school teacher. Nobel Peace Prize winner. Defender of peace and human rights and above all, a faithful servant of his creator and his neighbor.said John Thune.
“He was the first president of the United States to adopt a comprehensive energy policy, including providing some of the first federal aid for clean energy. He also passed more than a dozen major pieces of legislation concerning environmental protection and more than doubled the size of America’s national parks.said Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States.
“James Earl Carter Junior loved our country. He lived his faith. He served the people. And he left the world better than he found it.”she added
“We all know that his concern for humanity did not stop at building homes. In the face of disease, President Jimmy Carter brought life-saving medicine. In the face of conflict, he negotiated peace “In the face of discrimination, he reminded us that we are all in the image of God. If you asked him why he did all this, he would probably tell you that he has faith.”said Mike Thune, Speaker of the House of Representatives, praising Mr. Carter.
Mr. Carter, who died on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100, will rest in peace Tuesday and Wednesday evening. He will receive a state funeral Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral. President Biden will attend Mr. Carter’s funeral and deliver a eulogy.