The Elements of a State Funeral

IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 30 YEARS SINCE THE LAST STATE FUNERAL, for Lyndon Johnson in 1973. The ritual that will unfold for Ronald Reagan on Thursday will be something, God willing, that we are unlikely to see repeated for some time. It will be marked by dignity, solemnity, and many deeply moving moments. For those who do not remember the Kennedy or Johnson state funerals, here are some of the aspects required by law and tradition.

Repose - The remains lie in one or more of the selected places for public viewing (e.g. church, presidential library or museum). This also includes appropriate arrival and departure ceremonies.

Lying in State - The remains lie overnight in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. Appropriate arrival and departure ceremonies are included.

Main Funeral Procession - Begins at the Capitol and moves west along Constitution Avenue.

Casket Transfer - At 16th Street and Constitution Avenue, the remains are transferred from a caisson to a hearse for movement to Washington National Cathedral.

Composition of Main Funeral Procession (in order of march):

Police escort

Troops, including service bands

Cortege:
Special honor guard
Honorary pallbearers
National colors
Clergy
Caisson
Armed Forces body bearers
Presidential colors
Caparisoned horse
Family

As a past commander in chief of the U.S. Armed Forces, former presidents are afforded specific military honors. In accordance with regulation and tradition, these honors include:

Military Escort For The Immediate Family - The commanding general for the U.S. Army Military District of Washington serves as the military escort for the former president's immediate family from the time of the official announcement of the death until burial. Maj. Gen. Galen B. Jackman is the MDW commanding general and will serve in this capacity.

Guard Of Honor - An armed forces element that provides a ceremonial presence when the former president lies in repose or state. Guard of Honor members are based in Washington, D.C., and belong to ceremonial detachments for the Army, Marine, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

Armed Forces Body Bearers - A nine-person detail that carries the casket during a state funeral.

21-Gun Salute - A cannon salute of 21 rounds is a traditional military honor for a head of state. During a state funeral, the salute is fired with five-second intervals between rounds.

Military Clergy - A military chaplain from one of the services is assigned to assist the former president's immediate family.

Flag-Draped Casket - All military veterans are entitled to have the American flag draped over their casket. The president, as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, is also entitled to this honor.

Caisson - The Old Guard Caisson Platoon of the Army's 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment will transport the remains during the funeral procession in Washington, D.C. The caisson consists of six horses of the same color, three riders, and a section chief mounted on a separate horse. The caisson itself is a converted transport wagon for a 75mm cannon.

The Caparisoned Horse - A riderless horse that follows the caisson. A pair of boots are reversed in the stirrups of the empty saddle to symbolize that the warrior will never ride again.

Military Band - A military band will play appropriate music in honor of the former president during each phase of the funeral. Some traditional selections include:

Ruffles And Flourishes - Ruffles are played on drums and flourishes on bugles. They are sounded together, once for each star of the general officer being honored or according to the title or office held. Four ruffles and flourishes are the highest honor and are played for presidents.

Hail To The Chief - Traditional musical honors played for the president of the United States.

Taps - A bugle call sounded over the grave of a service member that dates back to the Civil War.

Firing Three Volleys Over A Grave - This practice has its origin in the old custom of halting the fighting to remove the dead from the battlefield. Once the deceased troops were removed, three rifle volleys were fired as a signal that the battle could resume. A military rifle party traditionally fires the volleys. The fact that the firing party consists of seven service members firing three volleys does not constitute a 21-gun salute.

Excerpted from: State Funeral Steeped In Tradition

Posted by Vanderleun at June 8, 2004 10:44 AM