The nation’s tribute to former United States President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29 at the age of 100, opens Saturday in his small hometown of Plains, Georgia, a ballet of ceremonies until ‘to the day of national mourning on January 9.
The six-day ceremony will kick off at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, when his coffin will be carried by officers of the Secret Serviceresponsible for the protection of political figures.
The convoy will first travel through Plains, a town to which the former president was so attached, then part of Georgia. The tribute will culminate on January 9 in Washington.
In front of the family farm where he grew up, the bell will ring 39 times, in tribute to the 39th American head of state that he was.
Then head to Atlanta, capital of Georgia, with a moment of contemplation in front of the Capitol of this southeastern state, where he was a local senator before becoming governor.
Then the hearse will arrive at the Carter Center, the foundation created in 1982 by the former president and his wife Rosalynn Carter, who died in 2023 at age 96.
His commitment to this foundation, specializing in conflict prevention, the defense of democracy and public health issues around the world, earned him a warm tribute from the head of the World Health Organization.
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Jimmy Carter, while a student at the United States Naval Academy.
Photo : Associated Press / John Bazemore
Collection
From 7 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Americans are invited to pay their respects before the remains of the former president.
On Tuesday morning, his family will accompany the late Jimmy Carter aboard the official plane named Special Air Mission 39
direction Washington.
A convoy will take him to the memorial ofUS Navythe United States Navy. Jimmy Carter graduated from the Naval Academy in 1946 and later became a submariner.
Arranged on a box, his coffin will be pulled by a horse during a funeral procession at 2 p.m. towards the Capitol, seat of Congress in the capital.
The deceased will be transported by soldiers to the Rotunda, a room located below the dome of the Capitol, for a tribute ceremony at 3 p.m. in the presence of parliamentarians.
His remains will then be exhibited and the public is invited to come and pay their respects from 7 p.m. to midnight Tuesday, then from 7 a.m. Wednesday to 7 a.m. Thursday.
He will be the 13th former president to be put on display at the Capitol. Abraham Lincoln, assassinated in 1865, was the first.
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Jimmy Carter was the 39th president of the United States.
Photo : -
Funeral
On Thursday, January 9, Mr. Carter’s remains will leave the Capitol around 9 a.m., heading to the Washington National Cathedral, for the funeral of this pious man at 10 a.m.
Outgoing President Joe Biden, 82, to deliver eulogy for man he celebrated righteousness
. His successor, Republican Donald Trump, 78, far from being favored by Jimmy Carter, announced his presence.
In tribute, American flags were flown at half-mast for 30 days, including January 20, angering the president-elect, who said Friday that no one wanted to see
this during the investiture ceremony.
Living former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama are also expected to attend.
Accompanied by his family, the deceased will board the same Special Air Mission 39
for his final journey to Georgia.
A private funeral will be held at a Baptist church in Plains at 3:45 p.m.
The public is invited to watch the convoy pass through his hometown of around 600 people.
Shortly after arriving at the Carter residence, U.S. Navy planes will fly over his beloved city in tribute to this former submariner, who became — as president — military commander in chief.
He will be buried at 5:20 p.m., privately, alongside his wife of 77 years.
