State funerals in the United States
In the United States, state funerals are the official funerary rites conducted by the federal government in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., that are offered to a sitting or former president, a president-elect, high government officials and other civilians who have rendered distinguished service to the nation.[1][2] Administered by the Military District of Washington (MDW), a command unit of the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region, state funerals are greatly influenced by protocol, steeped in tradition, and rich in history. However, the overall planning as well as the decision to hold a state funeral, is largely determined by a president and their family.[3]
Since the death of Henry Clay in 1852, the United States Capitol rotunda has served as the venue for honoring 34 military officers and politicians - including 12 presidents - with a lying in state. Not all who lie in state nor all for whom flags are flown at half-staff, receive a state funeral. A distinction is made between recipients who are permitted to lie in state and those who lie in honor. Incumbent and past government officials whose remains are placed in the rotunda for view by the public to pay their respects will lie in state. Individuals other than members of the government will lie in honor.[105] The rotunda has been used five times for six individuals who have lain in honor: four members of the United States Capitol Police killed defending the building (two in 1998 and two in separate incidents in 2021); civil rights activist Rosa Parks in 2005; and evangelist and minister Billy Graham in 2018.[106][107]
When lying in state, six guards of honor, each representing one of the six branches of the Armed Forces, will periodically rotate and relieve the preceding set of guards of honor who watch over the remains. For recipients who have been designated to lie in honor, the United States Capitol Police will act as guards of honor. No law, written rule, or regulation specifies who may lie in state. Use of the Capitol rotunda is controlled by a concurrent resolution of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Any person who has rendered distinguished service to the nation may lie in state if the family so wishes and the United States Congress approves. In the case of unknown soldiers, the president or the appropriate branch of the Armed Forces initiates the action.[108]
People who have lain in state in the United States Capitol rotunda are as follows:[109]
People who have lain in honor in the United States Capitol rotunda are as follows:[109]
People who have lain in state in the National Statuary Hall at the United States Capitol are as follows:[116]
People who have lain in state in the House Chamber at the United States Capitol are as follows:[108]
People who have lain in state in the Herbert C. Hoover Building are as follows:[108]
People who have lain in repose in the Senate Chamber at the United States Capitol are as follows:[119][120]
Presidents who have lain in repose in the East Room of the White House
Supreme Court Justices who have lain in state in the Old Senate Chamber at the United States Capitol are as follows:[108]
Supreme Court Justices who have lain in repose in the Great Hall at the United States Supreme Court Building are as follows:[108]
Funeral arrangements[edit]
Each president living, sitting or former, is generally expected to have funeral plans in place on becoming president. The Military District of Washington (MDW) has primary responsibility in overseeing state funerals and in all cases, must strictly follow the outline of a 138-page planning document. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, state funerals are designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a National Special Security Event (NSSE), making the United States Secret Service in charge of security.
Detailed funeral arrangements have emerged for Jimmy Carter: a 411-page document outlining a state funeral for Carter has been filed with the Military District of Washington, including a national funeral service at Washington National Cathedral, and a public viewing of the former president's remains at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Carter has stated that his final interment and burial will be in the front yard of his family's residence, which is now a component of the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains, Georgia.[123]