Billy Graham, the First Religious Leader to Lay in honor – The United Stated Congress has authorized Billy Graham to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Graham is the first religious leader to be offered this distinction.

Billy Graham, the First Religious Leader to Lay in Honor

What a great honor for Billy Graham to be the First Religious Leader to Lay in Honor. That does make a big impact!

His body will arrive at the Capitol on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. ET, and a private ceremony will be held at 11 a.m.

From 1 to 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, the public will be welcome to honor Billy Graham in the Capitol Rotunda. For details, refer to information posted by the U.S. Capitol Police.

The late Reverend Billy Graham will lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda beginning on Wednesday, February 28, 2018.  Members of the public and Capitol Hill community are invited to pay their respects at the U.S. Capitol.

Following a private arrival ceremony to include The Reverend Graham’s family and Members of Congress, the U.S. Capitol Rotunda will open to the public from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m., on Wednesday, February 28.  All visitors will enter through the Capitol Visitor Center.

The following is specific information for the Capitol Complex regarding street closures, parking restrictions, restricted access to the U.S. Capitol, and other details regarding the event.

Granted the honor to lie in state

Only presidents, military commanders and members of Congress are granted the honor to lie in state. For those who lie in state, the casket is guarded at each of its corners by servicemen from each of the four branches of the United States Armed Forces. In 1998, Congress created a similar privilege for private citizens to lie in honor. For those who lie in honor, an honor guard is provided by the United States Capitol Police.

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The first leader to lie in the Capitol Rotunda was former Speaker of the House of Representatives Henry Clay, when he died in 1852. Some 30 individuals, including 11 presidents, have been extended this honor.

Once a photo of the military guarding Billy Graham as he is laid in honor, I will add it to this blog post.

AUDIO: President Trump spoke at the lie in honor ceremony for Billy Graham at the U.S. Capitol Building on Wednesday, February 28, 2018.

Lain in honor:

• 2018: Evangelist Reverend Billy Graham
• 2005: Rosa Parks, civil rights activist
• 1998: U.S. Capitol Police Detective John Gibson, killed on duty
• 1998: U.S. Capitol Police Officer Jacob Chestnut, killed on duty

More Photos:

Lain in state:

• 2004: Ronald Reagan, president.
• 1852: Henry Clay, Kentucky representative, senator and secretary of state.
• 1865: Abraham Lincoln, president.
• 1868: Thaddeus Stevens, Pennsylvania member of House.
• 1874: Charles Sumner, Massachusetts senator.
• 1875: Henry Wilson, Massachusetts senator, vice president.
• 1881: James Garfield, president.
• 1886: John Alexander Logan, Illinois representative, senator.
• 1901: William McKinley, president.
• 1909: Pierre Charles L’Enfant, architect who designed Washington, D.C.
• 1917: George Dewey, admiral, hero of Manila Bay in Spanish-American War.
• 1921: Unknown soldier of World War I.
• 1923: Warren Harding, president.
• 1930: William Howard Taft, president.
• 1948: John Pershing, general of the armies of United States.
• 1953: Robert Taft, Ohio senator.
• 1958: Unknown soldiers of World War II and Korean War.
• 1963: John F. Kennedy, president.
• 1964: Douglas MacArthur, general during World War II, Korean War.
• 1964: Herbert Hoover, president.
• 1969: Dwight D. Eisenhower, president.
• 1969: Everett Dirksen, Illinois representative, senator.
• 1972: J. Edgar Hoover, first FBI director.
• 1973: Lyndon Johnson, president.
• 1978: Hubert Humphrey, vice president, Minnesota senator.
• 1984: Unknown soldier of Vietnam era.
• 1989: Claude Pepper, Florida representative, senator.

Difference between lying in state and lying in honor

According to WYFF4, The difference between lying in state and lying in honor is the designated guards of honor that keeps watch over the remains. When lying in state, five guards of honor, each representing the five branches of the Armed Forces, will periodically rotate and relieve the preceding set of guards of honor who watch over the remains.

CAPITOL TOURS

Beginning on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 public and staff-led tours will be restricted from the second floor (Rotunda) of the U.S. Capitol.  The Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) will remain open to the public on February 27.  The House and Senate Galleries also will remain open until 5 p.m. or until those Chambers recess, whichever is later.  Visitors with gallery passes may continue to enter at the CVC’s main entrance on February 27, 2018.

The U.S. Capitol and CVC will be closed to all tours on Wednesday, February 28, until 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 1, 2018.  

Compliments of DeMoss & US Capitol Police.

First published February 27, 2018. Last updated March 1, 2018.

About the Author

Steve Patterson

A Christian Blogger that enjoys blogging about the Bible, Theology, God, Jesus Christ, Christian Music, Family, Cats, Odd Holidays, sewing and much more. I have been blogging since 2004, however, I have been blogging on Courageous Christian Father since 2012. I enjoy listening to Christian Music. I am married with 1 daughter, 2 step-sons and a step daughter.

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