Former President Jimmy Carter will be remembered with public observances in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., the Carter Center said, and a private internment in Plains.
ATLANTA โ Former President Carter died Sunday at 100 years old; his life was marked by an immense legacy of personal service, humanitarian activism and political achievement.ย
Forthcomingย memorials will take stockย of that immense legacy and offer communities from Carter’s hometown of Plains, Georgia, to Atlanta to Washington, D.C., a chance to remember and pay tribute to the 39th president.
Funeral services to honor the former president will begin on Jan. 4 and end on Jan. 9.
Here are some of the highlights of those observances so far and state funeral protocols:
Jimmy Carter’s memorial arrangements | What we know so far
- Arrangements: There are six days of services, beginning Jan. 4. The funeral services include stops in his hometown, a motorcade in Atlanta to the Georgia State Capitol, and days where he will lie in repose at the Carter Presidential Center. After that, Carter will be taken to Washington D.C. for a funeral procession to the U.S. Capitol, where he will lie in state. On the final date, there will be a National Funeral Service in D.C. before family travels back with the late president to Georgia for a private service in his hometown.ย Read the full schedule here.
- Other ways the public can pay respects: The Carter Center directs members of the public to visit this tribute website. There, you can sign an official condolence book as well as find materials commemorating President Carter’s life. In lieu of flowers, Carter’s family is asking for donations to be made to The Carter Center, 453 John Lewis Freedom Pkwy. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30307.
- State funeral protocols: The JTF-NCF and U.S. Army Military District of Washington website states the following:
A state funeral is a national tribute which is traditionally reserved for a head of state. The United States conducts state funerals on behalf of all persons who hold, or have held, the office of president as well as a president-elect and other persons designated by the president.
A state funeral is a 7 to 10 day event and consists of three stages. Stage I includes ceremonies within the state in which the president, former president, or president-elect was in residence. Stage II includes ceremonies within Washington, DC, and Stage III includes ceremonies in the state in which the authorized individual has chosen to be interred.
The ceremonies occurring in the national capital region may involve Armed Forces honor guards, elite military bands, and other service academies, National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserve units. The ceremonies occurring outside the national capital region may include Washington-based honor guards and local service units to include active duty, National Guard and Reserve for logistical, military band or salute guns support.
- Further protocols: According to the JTF-NCF site:
Upon notification of a former presidentโs death to the White House, the president of the United States officially announces the death of a former president by proclamation. He then directs the Department of Defense to conduct a state funeral on behalf of the nation.
The Secretary of Defense, in turn, designates the U.S. Northern Command commander as the combatant commander responsible for the conduct of the funeral.
U.S. NORTHCOM then activates JTF-NCR as Joint Task Force National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) and designates the commanding general of JTF-NCR as the supported operational commander.
The JTF-NCR commander is responsible for coordinating and conducting all of the ceremonies to honor a former president.
Remembering Jimmy Carter |ย Full funeral service schedule
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