The late South Carolina senator will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol on July 28 before services at Washington National Cathedral and First Baptist Church of Columbia.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The late Sen. Lindsey Graham will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda next Tuesday as part of two days of ceremonies recognizing his decades of military service and 31 years representing South Carolina in the Senate.
Graham’s office released the funeral arrangements Tuesday, outlining tributes in Washington and South Carolina before a private burial in Pickens County.
The memorial events will begin July 28 with the arrival of Graham’s remains at the Capitol. An Armed Forces Body Bearer Team will carry the casket into the Rotunda in recognition of his long service in the Air Force.
A memorial guard from the U.S. Capitol Police will then stand watch, honoring Graham’s more than three decades in the Senate.
The Rotunda ceremony will not be open to the public, though it will be livestreamed.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said allowing Graham to lie in state was an appropriate final honor for the longtime senator.
“As we say our final goodbyes, it seems fitting for his friends and colleagues to give back to him through this special Capitol honor,” Thune said in remarks reported by Politico.
After the Capitol observance, Graham’s remains will be transported to Washington National Cathedral for an invitation-only funeral beginning at 2 p.m.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a tribute during the cathedral service, according to Graham’s office.
Graham’s remains will be flown to South Carolina later that evening for a second day of public memorial events.
On July 29, a funeral procession will travel through the grounds of the South Carolina State House in Columbia, giving members of the public an opportunity to pay their respects.
The procession will include a caisson operated by the South Carolina State Guard and a presentation involving law enforcement agencies from across the state.
An F-16 flyover will also be conducted by the 169th Fighter Wing, based at McEntire Joint National Guard Base.
The procession will end at First Baptist Church of Columbia, where a public funeral service will be held. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
A private burial attended by Graham’s family will follow in Pickens County.
Sen. Darline Graham, the late senator’s sister and interim successor, thanked those involved in organizing the ceremonies.
“I am grateful to all those who have come together to help honor and remember Lindsey,” she said in a statement posted on X.
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to President Trump and his team, Washington National Cathedral, Senate leadership, First Baptist Church of Columbia and the Senate Sergeant at Arms for going above and beyond to ensure these will be honorable tributes to Lindsey.”
Lindsey Graham died unexpectedly earlier this month. His office said the cause was an aortic dissection resulting from arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Graham served in the Senate for 31 years and became one of South Carolina’s most prominent political figures. His career also included decades of military service in the Air Force.
Following his death, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to serve the remainder of her brother’s Senate term.
She announced Monday that she will seek a full six-year term after receiving Trump’s endorsement.
The Republican primary is expected to include Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, setting up a competitive contest among candidates seeking to succeed one of the Senate’s most influential conservative lawmakers.
The Washington and South Carolina ceremonies will combine military, congressional, religious and state honors, reflecting the different institutions that shaped Graham’s public life.
His Capitol tribute will place him among a limited number of American officials granted the distinction of lying in state in the Rotunda before his remains return home for the final public service and private burial.
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