The History of the Presidential Funeral
On December 29, 2024, the nation mourned the passing of Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States. Carter was 100 at the time of his passing. Following his death, our country held a presidential funeral, in accordance with tradition.
When a president passes away, there is a televised state funeral, which includes decades of honors and traditions and is designated as a National Special Security Event (NSSE). However, did you know that presidents get to add their personal touches to their own funerals, just like we do? Presidents have families and loved ones who would like to remember and honor their lives outside of their time in office, so these personal touches are vital to memorialize not just the job title but the person behind it, too.
The State Funeral
First, there are the traditional elements of a presidential funeral, also known as a state funeral. A national day of mourning is proclaimed (usually by the sitting president) and generally observed on the day of the president’s funeral. Since John Kennedy’s funeral in 1963, those days have also been designated as federal holidays.
In addition, the federal U.S. Flag Code states that for 30 days following the president’s death, flags should be flown at half-staff at United States embassies, legations, all military facilities, and naval vessels and stations. In addition, in the president’s honor, the armed forces installations and ships at sea fire artillery volleys at 30-minute intervals from sunrise to sunset, and there is a flyover of twenty-one fighter aircraft.
A president’s coffin “lays in state,” typically in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda for two days, so the general public can come by and express their condolences. Afterward, most are buried at their presidential library, historic family estates, or private family plots. Jimmy Carter chose to be laid to rest
When it comes to their personal touches, at the beginning of each new presidential term, the newly elected president is asked to imagine their own presidential funeral and what they want, including songs, how and where they want to be buried, and other important details, just like someone would if they are pre-planning their funeral.
For example, 41st President George H. W. Bush wrote a very long document about his wishes, which included a motorcade through Alexandria, Virginia, and the World War II Memorial on the National Mall to pay tribute to Bush’s military service. The 29th president, Warren G. Harding, had a coffin adorned with a flag and eagle made from flowers and designed by his wife, Florence.
The wish of the 34th president, Dwight Eisenhower, was to be dressed in his World War II uniform and buried in a government-issued casket that looked like any other soldier’s casket, the total cost of which was $80. Harry Truman, the nation’s 33rd president, wanted to be buried at his presidential library in Independence, Missouri, but said the reason for his decision was so that he could “get up and walk into my office if I want to.”
Song options can include Hail to the Chief (played at Ronald Reagan’s funeral), The Star-Spangled Banner, and Stars and Stripes Forever. In addition, there are more personal inclusions, such as at Lyndon Johnson’s funeral, Leontyne Price performed Take My Hand, Precious Lord and Onward, Christian Soldiers. When President Bush’s casket arrived at his library in College Station, the Texas A&M’s marching band played Aggie War Hymn. While at President Carter’s service, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood performed John Lennon’s Imagine, among other artist performances.
While presidential funerals are some of the most important funerals our country observes, at their core, the meaning remains the same: to honor and celebrate someone’s life after they pass.
