By Abigail Philip David
The body of former United States President Jimmy Carter was transferred to the US Capitol on Tuesday in a grand military ceremony, where it will lie in state until his national funeral later this week.
Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100, served as the 39th president from 1977 to 1981. His legacy extended well beyond his presidency, earning him widespread admiration for his humanitarian work, which was recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
Capitol Arrival and Public Tribute
The late president’s flag-draped casket arrived at the snow-covered US Capitol after a day of ceremonial travel that began in Georgia, his home state. Members of the public filed through the Capitol Rotunda to pay their respects, many pausing in silence to honor Carter.
“I paid my respects to President Jimmy Carter as he lies in state in the US Capitol Rotunda today. On behalf of the entire Department of Defense, we join the Carter family and all Americans in celebrating this extraordinary life, legacy, and service to our nation,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Procession and Ceremony
Carter’s casket was transported to Washington aboard a presidential US Air Force jet. A funeral procession followed, tracing the reverse route of his 1977 inauguration parade. The procession, which began at the US Navy Memorial in recognition of Carter’s service as a submariner, made its way down a cleared Pennsylvania Avenue, accompanied by hundreds of military personnel.
Military pallbearers carried the casket into the Capitol Rotunda, where a brief service was held. Carter’s family, members of Congress, and dignitaries including Vice President Kamala Harris and Chief Justice John Roberts attended.
Carter is the 13th former US president to lie in state at the Capitol, a tradition that began with Abraham Lincoln in 1865.
National Funeral and Commemoration
A state funeral will take place on Thursday at the National Cathedral in Washington, a venue that has hosted services for past presidents, including Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and George H.W. Bush. President Joe Biden is set to deliver the eulogy for his fellow Democrat, with all four living former presidents—Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump—expected to attend.
Biden has declared Thursday a national day of mourning, with federal government offices closed. Flags have been ordered to fly at half-staff for 30 days, in accordance with tradition.
Carter’s Final Resting Place
Jimmy Carter, the first US president to reach 100 years of age, spent his final months in hospice care in Plains, Georgia, his hometown. He will be buried there next to his wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who passed away earlier in 2024.
Carter’s passing marks the end of an extraordinary life devoted to public service, diplomacy, and humanitarian causes, leaving a legacy that will be celebrated for generations.
