Mrs. Ford, family, and friends attend a private service at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, CA. Following this, there will be a public viewing at the church. 
 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2006

There will be a slow motorcade from the church to the Palm Springs airport. Ford and family will be flown to Washington, DC.

Pres. Ford's body arrives in DC in the late afternoon.

There will be no caisson up Constitution Avenue. Rather, his body will be taken to the Capitol by motorcade, with a pause at the WWII Memorial, where WWII vets will be waiting to salute.

The casket will be brought to the steps on the U.S. House of Representatives side of the Capitol where it will be greeted by a group of former House colleagues of President Ford - to symbolize Ford's career in the House. Procession goes from there to the Rotunda.

Following a funeral service, the casket will lie in state in the Rotunda beginning in the evening.  
 

SUNDAY & MONDAY, DECEMBER 31 & JANUARY 1, 2007

Pres. Ford's body lies in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol for two days. Service that day in the Rotunda. He lies in state overnight in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.  
 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2007

Pres. Ford's body lies in state in the early morning in the Rotunda. That morning, he will leave the Rotunda and exit the U.S. Capitol out of the Senate side, signifying his time as Vice President.

Next, the body will be taken from Capitol to National Cathedral via motorcade for mid-morning service. Pres. Bush speaks at the National Cathedral service.

Motorcade from National Cathedral to Andrews Air Force Base follows the ceremony.

Pres. Ford's body will be flown to Grand Rapids that evening to the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum, where the casket will lie in repose in the lobby of the Museum. There will be a brief arrival ceremony there at the Museum that evening. Wreaths will be laid by presidents of Yale and University of Michigan.

Ford lies in repose overnight in lobby of Museum.
  

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2007

In the morning, Pres. Ford's body will be taken from the Library to Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids for final ceremony. This is the church where the President and Mrs. Ford were married. Church seats 350.

After church service, he is taken back to the museum where he will be buried. The procession will go the length of the museum.

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Ford-Related Video
 
 
Vice Pres. Nixon & Gerald Ford Make PSA (1959)
Gerald Ford Political Ad (1959)
Pres. Ford's Inauguration (1974)
Pres. Ford's First Presidential Press Conference (1974)
Pres. Ford Pardons Pres. Nixon (1974)
Carter-Ford Presidential Debate (1976)
Pres. Ford's Concession Speech (1976)
Pres. Ford's Final State of the Union Adress (1977)
C-SPAN Interview with Ford (1992)
Pres. Ford Recieves the Profile in Courage Award (2001)
Washington Journal: James Cannon, Author, “Time and Chance: Gerald Ford’s Appointment with History" (12/28/2006)
Washington Journal: Richard Norton Smith, Fmr. Director of the Gerald Ford Presidential Library & Museum (12/29/2006)
Washington Journal: Yanek Mieczkowski, Author, “Gerald Ford and the Challenges of the 1970’s” (1/02/2007)
 
 
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Contextual Links
 
White House Ford Webpage: "Remembering President Gerald R. Ford"
Washington Post Special Webpage on Gerald Ford
Those Who Have Lain in State or in Honor in the Capitol Rotunda
Remarks by President Bush Upon the Death of President Gerald Ford (12/27/2006)
New York Times Gerald Ford Obituary (12/27/2006)
Washington Post: Photo presentation tracing the 38th president's early life and rise to political prominence(12/28/2006)
Los Angeles Times Gerald Ford Obituary (12/28/2006)
Pres. Bush Transcript at the Funeral Service for Pres. Ford at the National Cathedral (1/02/2007)
Top Asked Questions Regarding Military Funerals
 
 
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