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Arlington: Laying Senator Edward Kennedy to Rest

By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Sat Aug 29, 2009 at 04:59:59 PM EST
Tags: Sen. Edward Kennedy, Ted Kennedy (all tags)
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6:00 pm ET: A large crowd of staffers and others is assembled at the Capitol awaiting the casket of Senator Edward Kennedy which is en route from Andrews Air Force Base. The procession will drive around the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol and then proceed to Arlington, where Senator Kennedy will be laid to rest.

ABC News reports there are 900 staff on the steps and 4,000 in the plaza and lining Constitution Ave. You can follow on Twitter here.

The official Edward M. Kennedy page with updates is here.

6:10 pm: Motorcade is 2 miles away. Further updates below:

6:30 pm: Brief prayer outside the steps of the Capitol. Vicki Kennedy is there.

7:30 p.m.: The hearse is arriving at Arlington. Joe Biden is there. The family is now arriving. The Honor Guard is waiting.

The cable yakkers are just ruining it. Can they not watch in silence?

7:55 p.m.: The Casket Guard is taking the casket out of the hearse. The sun has already set. They are proceeding with it in silence. Vicki Kennedy, escorted by her brother, Patrick Kennedy and Jean Kennedy Smith are right behind.

They put the casket down and are holding the flag above it.

8:03 p.m: The service is taking place, led by Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, D.C. He reads a letter Teddy wrote to the Pope weeks before he died that he says was hand-delivered by President Obama. He reads the Pope's response back to Teddy. It's dark outside now.

There's the military guns and Taps, followed by some words by two of his grandchildren. The service ends.

May he rest in peace.

Update: Sen. Kennedy's Memoirs will be released Setp. 14:

< Teddy Kennedy, Jr.'s Eulogy to Sen. Ted Kennedy | Saturday Night Open Thread : Here Comes the Sun >

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    Arlington: Laying Senator Edward Kennedy to Rest | 10 comments (10 topical)

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    The CNN article said that Senator Byrd (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by MO Blue on Sat Aug 29, 2009 at 05:52:37 PM EST
    was at the capital to pay his respects. Glad to hear that he is up and about.

    He was there in a wheelchair (5.00 / 3) (#2)
    by Cream City on Sat Aug 29, 2009 at 06:14:25 PM EST
    on the steps, waving not his beloved pocket copy of the Constitution this time but, instead, a small American flag.

    It was lovely to see but also sad, as the flag was waving in part owing to what appeared to be fairly uncontrollable tremors.  So I prefer to remember the clip shown on tv several times these days, of Byrd in the Senate at his desk, getting the word of his colleague's death and bowing his head as he tried to speak of "Ted" but broke down in tears.

    Parent

    Okay, the first grandchild (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by Cream City on Sat Aug 29, 2009 at 07:25:02 PM EST
    does me in with his comment at the gravesite.  There is another generation coming up of Kennedys who can make great speeches.  

    And I'm actually glad that the fates (or maybe the plans not released to the media) delayed this event until after dark, so the networks are caught unable to show it.  I don't need to see those long shots zooming in on little kids faces in sorrow.  It's better this way, like radio.

    I agree (none / 0) (#4)
    by mogal on Sat Aug 29, 2009 at 07:43:20 PM EST
    I missed the reading of the letter Ted Kennedy wrote to the Pope, is it posted anywhere?

    Parent