State funeral of John F. Kennedy
The state funeral of U.S. President John F. Kennedy took place in Washington, D.C., during the three days that followed his assassination on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas.[1]
Kennedy's body was brought back to Washington after his assassination. Early on November 23, six military pallbearers carried the flag-draped coffin into the East Room of the White House, where he lay in repose for 24 hours.[2][3] Then, his flag-draped coffin was carried on a horse-drawn caisson to the Capitol to lie in state. Throughout the day and night, hundreds of thousands lined up to view the guarded casket,[4][5] with a quarter million passing through the rotunda during the 18 hours of lying in state.[4]
Kennedy's funeral service was held on November 25, at St. Matthew's Cathedral.[6] The Requiem Mass was led by Cardinal Richard Cushing.[6] About 1,200 guests, including representatives from over 90 countries, attended.[7][8] After the service, Kennedy was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Preparations for the state funeral[edit]
After President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, his body was flown back to Washington,[9] and taken to Bethesda Naval Hospital for the autopsy.[10][11] At the same time, military authorities began making arrangements for a state funeral.[12][13] Army Major General Philip C. Wehle, the commanding general of the Military District of Washington (MDW) (CG MDW), and retired Army Colonel Paul C. Miller, chief of ceremonies and special events at the MDW, planned the funeral.[14][15]
They headed to the White House and worked with the president's brother-in-law, Sargent Shriver, also director of the Peace Corps, and Ralph Dungan, an aide to the president.[14][16][17][18] Because President Kennedy had no funeral plan in place, much of the planning rested with the CG MDW.[14] House Speaker John W. McCormack said that the president's body would be brought back to the White House to lie in the East Room the following day and then taken to the Capitol to lie in state in the rotunda all day Sunday.[19]
The day after the assassination, the new president, Lyndon B. Johnson, issued Presidential Proclamation 3561, declaring Monday to be a national day of mourning,[20][21] and only essential emergency workers to be at their posts.[22] He read the proclamation over a nationwide radio and television broadcast at 4:45 p.m. from the Fish Room (currently known as the Roosevelt Room) at the White House.[23]
Several elements of the state funeral paid tribute to President Kennedy's service in the Navy during World War II.[24] They included a member of the Navy bearing the presidential flag,[24] the playing of the Navy Hymn, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save," and the Naval Academy Glee Club performing at the White House.[25][26]
The remains of John F. Kennedy lying in repose in the East Room of the White House on November 23, 1963.
Pall bearers carrying the casket of President Kennedy up the center steps of the United States Capitol Building, followed by a color guard holding the flag of the president of the United States, and the late President's widow, Jacqueline Kennedy and her children, Caroline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr., on November 24, 1963.
The remains of President Kennedy lying in state in the United States Capitol Rotunda on November 24, 1963.
President Lyndon B. Johnson, Lady Bird Johnson, and the Johnson family walking from the White House as part of the funeral procession accompanying President Kennedy's casket to Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle on November 25, 1963.
Jacqueline Kennedy, accompanied by her brothers-in-law, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Senator Edward Kennedy, walking from the White House as part of the funeral procession accompanying President Kennedy's casket to Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington D.C. on November 25, 1963.
An honor guard folds the flag of the United States at Arlington National Cemetery in preparation for flag presentation to Jacqueline Kennedy on November 25, 1963.
Jacqueline Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy walk away from President Kennedy's casket during interment at Arlington National Cemetery on November 25, 1963.
