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File:Funeral Elisabeth.jpg|A drawing by [[William Camden]] depicting the funeral cortège of [[Queen Elizabeth I of England]], 1603.
File:Funeral Elisabeth.jpg|A drawing by [[William Camden]] depicting the funeral cortège of [[Queen Elizabeth I of England]], 1603.
File:NelsonTomb.jpg|The coffin of [[Horatio Nelson]] in the crossing of St Paul's Cathedral during his state funeral, with the dome hung with captured French and Spanish flags, 1805.
File:NelsonTomb.jpg|The coffin of [[Horatio Nelson]] in the crossing of Saint Paul's Cathedral during his state funeral, with the dome hung with captured French and Spanish flags, 1805.
File:LincolnTrain.jpeg|The funeral train of [[Abraham Lincoln]] departing Washington D.C. enroute to Springfield, Illinois for interment, 1865.
File:LincolnTrain.jpeg|The funeral train of [[Abraham Lincoln]] departing Washington D.C. enroute to Springfield, Illinois for interment, 1865.
File:McKinley Capitol casket.jpg|An honor guard carrying the coffin of [[William McKinley]] up the east steps of the United States Capitol, 1901.
File:McKinley Capitol casket.jpg|An honor guard carrying the coffin of [[William McKinley]] up the east steps of the United States Capitol, 1901.
File:Funeral of Edward VII -1910 -cropped.JPG|The funeral procession of [[King Edward VII of the United Kingdom]] in London, 1910.
File:Funeral of Edward VII -1910 -cropped.JPG|The funeral procession of [[King Edward VII of the United Kingdom]] in London, 1910.
File:Pope-benedict-xv-03.jpg|[[Pope Benedict XV]] lying in state at Saint Peter's Basilica, 1922.
File:Franklin Roosevelt funeral procession 1945.jpg|A caisson carrying the remains of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] proceeds down Pennsylvania Avenue towards the United States Capitol, 1945.
File:Franklin Roosevelt funeral procession 1945.jpg|A caisson carrying the remains of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] proceeds down Pennsylvania Avenue towards the United States Capitol, 1945.
File:JFKeastRoomnov23'63.jpg|The remains of [[John F. Kennedy]] lie in repose in the East Room of the White House, 1963.
File:JFKeastRoomnov23'63.jpg|The remains of [[John F. Kennedy]] lying in repose in the East Room of the White House, 1963.
File:Perón Funeral.jpg|The funeral cortège of [[Juan Domingo Perón]] in Buenos Aires, 1974.
File:Perón Funeral.jpg|The funeral cortège of [[Juan Domingo Perón]] in Buenos Aires, 1974.
File:Queen Mother Carriage.jpg|The funeral cortège of [[Elizabeth Bowes Lyon|Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother]] proceeds from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, 2002.
File:Queen Mother Carriage.jpg|The funeral cortège of [[Elizabeth Bowes Lyon|Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother]] proceeds from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, 2002.
File:Ronald Reagan casket on caisson during funeral procession.jpg|A caisson carrying the remains of [[Ronald Reagan]] down Constitution Avenue enroute to the United States Capitol, 2004.
File:Ronald Reagan casket on caisson during funeral procession.jpg|A caisson carrying the remains of [[Ronald Reagan]] down Constitution Avenue enroute to the United States Capitol, 2004.
File:Giovanni Paolo II 0013.JPG|The corpse of [[Pope John Paul II]] lies in state at Saint Peter's Bascilica, 2005.
File:Giovanni Paolo II 0013.JPG|The corpse of [[Pope John Paul II]] lying in state at Saint Peter's Basilica, 2005.
File:Ford-capitol-rotunda.JPEG|The coffin of [[Gerald Ford]] lies in state in the rotunda of the United States Capitol during his state funeral, 2006.
File:Ford-capitol-rotunda.JPEG|The coffin of [[Gerald Ford]] lying in state in the rotunda of the United States Capitol during his state funeral, 2006.
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Revision as of 20:12, 28 July 2009

Template:Globalize/Eng

A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony held to honour heads of state or other important people of national significance. They usually include much pomp and ceremony. Generally, they are held to involve the general public in the mourning process after the family of the deceased give consent.

United Kingdom

A state funeral consists of a military procession using a gun carriage from the private resting chapel to Westminster Hall, where the body usually lies in state for three days. This is then followed by a funeral service at Westminster Abbey or St. Paul's Cathedral.

Many of the features of a state funeral are shared by other types of funeral—a Royal Ceremonial funeral (for example, that of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother) often has a lying in state and Westminster Abbey service. The real distinction between a state funeral and a ceremonial funeral is that a state funeral requires a motion or vote in Parliament. However, the visual distinction usually referred to is that in a state funeral, the gun carriage bearing the coffin is drawn by sailors from the Royal Navy rather than horses.[1] This tradition dates from the funeral of Queen Victoria; the horses drawing the gun carriage bolted, and so ratings from the Royal Navy hauled it to the Royal Chapel at Windsor.

File:Prince of Wales guarding his grandmother's coffin.JPG
The Prince of Wales guarding his grandmother's coffin on April 8th, 2002

During the lying in state, the coffin rests on a catafalque in the middle of Westminster Hall. Each corner is guarded by various units of the Sovereign's Bodyguard or the Household Division. However, on some occasions (most notably the funerals of King George V and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother), male members of the Royal Family have mounted the guard, in what has become known as the Vigil of the Princes. For George V, his four sons King Edward VIII, The Duke of York, The Duke of Gloucester and The Duke of Kent stood guard. For the Queen Mother, her grandsons The Prince of Wales, The Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex and Viscount Linley took post.[2]

The honour of a state funeral is usually reserved for the Sovereign as Head of State and the current or past consort. Few others have had them:

Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield was offered the honour of a state funeral, but refused it in his will. The famous nurse and statistician Florence Nightingale was also offered a state funeral, but her family opted for a private ceremony.

The most recent state funeral for someone outside the Royal Family was that of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965. The only difference between his state funeral and that of the Sovereign was the gun salute: prime ministers get a 19-gun salute, as a head of government; the sovereign receives the full 21-gun salute, as head of state.

When the Duke of Windsor (formerly Edward VIII) died in 1972, he was given a private Royal funeral, with the exception that the Garter King of Arms recited words reserved for the deceased Sovereign—a feature of a state funeral.

Diana, Princess of Wales had a ceremonial funeral in 1997, similar to a state funeral. In 2008, it was reported that a state funeral is planned for the former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher,[4] but Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman denied that there was any such arrangement.[1]

United States

In the United States, state funerals are granted by law to presidents-elect, sitting presidents, and former presidents. State funerals may be granted to other individuals who make significant contributions to the nation by a resolution of the United States Congress. While tradition and protocol greatly influence the detailed planning of a state funeral, the elaborate sequence of events are largely determined by the president and his family.

History and development

See also: Lincoln Catafalque
See also: Black Jack (horse)
A drawing which shows Abraham Lincoln being prepared for the first of many of his interments in Illinois, 1865.

The pomp, grandeur, and splendor of state funerals were eschewed by the Founding Fathers of the United States, who believed them to be too reminiscent of British rule. The first general mourning proclaimed in the United States came upon the death of Benjamin Franklin in 1790, followed by the death of George Washington nine years later. Though there was public mourning across the nation after George Washington's death, his funeral was a local affair at his Virginia plantation, Mount Vernon. The first major state funeral was for William Henry Harrison, the first sitting president to die in office. Alexander Hunter, a Washington merchant, was commissioned to design the ceremony. He had the White House draped in black ribbon and ordered a curtained, upholstered black and white carriage to carry the coffin. Another famous state funeral was that of former First Lady Dolley Madison.

It was not until the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865 that the United States experienced a national period of mourning which was made possible by advances in communications technologies such as the train and telegraph. Abraham Lincoln was the first president to lie in state in the rotunda of United States Capitol. Subsequent state funerals over the years have henceforth been traditionally based on the Lincoln state funeral, the most notable being the State funeral of John F. Kennedy in 1963. Nevertheless, eleven presidents have been honored by having their remains lie in state in rotunda of the United States Capitol and on the Lincoln Catafalque, a catafalque made of pine wood which was purposely built for the Lincoln state funeral over 140 years ago.

Major components

See also: Military funeral
A caisson with Warren G. Harding's coffin at the north portico of the White House before its procession down Pennsylvania Avenue enroute to the United States Capitol, 1923.

Funeral processions in the nation's capital have honored eleven presidents, including the four who were assassinated. Although the details of a state funeral may vary depending on the wishes of each president, other honorees, and his or her family, the following is the most common sequence of events; however, there is no protocol forbidding the family of the honoree from making changes to the sequence of ceremonial events.

Most state funerals include eight pallbearers from all five branches of the Armed Forces, a series of gun salutes or cannon volleys for the deceased honoree depending on his or her rank in government or military upon death are fired on behalf of the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment, various musical selections performed by service bands and choirs, a military chaplain for the immediate family, and a flag-draped coffin if the president or honoree is a veteran of the Armed Forces. For the numerous arrival and departure ceremonies conducted throughout the entire course of a state funeral for a deceased president, four ruffles and flourishes are rendered, followed by Hail to the Chief which is performed by a service band. Other patriotic and religious medleys such as God Bless America and Amazing Grace may be played as well.

File:Riderless horse.jpg
The riderless horse, Sergeant York, during the funeral procession for Ronald Reagan, with one of his own boots reversed in a stirrup.

Sitting presidents who die while in office may lie in repose in the East Room of the White House. Former presidents may lie in repose in their home or adopted state before traveling to Washington, D.C. to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. Dwight D. Eisenhower was an exception to this general rule. President Eisenhower lay in repose at Washington National Cathedral, rather than his presidential library in Abilene, Kansas, following his death at Walter Reed Army Hospital in 1969.

A ceremonial funeral procession in a caisson which is drawn by six horses of the same color, three riders and a section chief mounted on a separate horse from the Old Guard Caisson Platoon, is a critical component of a state funeral. The procession begins in sight of the White House and travels to the United States Capitol Building. For former presidents, the coffin is transferred on a caisson at 16th St. and Constitution Avenue in view of the South Lawn. The procession moves down Constitution Avenue. For sitting presidents, the coffin is transferred at the north portico entrance of the White House and the procession moves down Pennsylvania Avenue. The procession is composed of the National Guard, active-duty, academy, and reserve personnel that represent the five branches of the United States armed forces. The caisson is followed by a riderless horse with a boot traditionally being reversed in the stirrups as a symbolic gesture of a fallen leader looking back on his soldiers one last time. Each march unit is led by a service band. One rare exception for this procession was for Gerald Ford. President Ford's coffin was transported in a hearse to the United States Capitol Building and en route, stopped at the National World War II Memorial in order to pay tribute to his service in the United States Navy during World War II. President Ford himself requested the 'Pause of Mutual Tribute' as his personal wishes deemed a ceremonial procession unnecessary. During the procession of a caisson to the United States Capitol Building, another common and critical component of a state funeral would be a flyover by the United States Air Force in missing man formation.

Ronald Reagan's coffin being carried into Washington National Cathedral for his memorial service, 2004.

The ceremonial procession traditionally ends at the center steps of the east front of the United States Capitol Building. Exceptions were made for Lyndon B. Johnson, Ronald Reagan, and Gerald Ford. President Johnson was carried up the Senate wing steps because the center steps were blocked with construction scaffolding from the second inauguration of Richard Nixon which occurred just days earlier.[5] President Reagan, as former governor of California, requested that he be carried up the steps which face west, overlooking California. President Ford, as a former member of the House of Representatives, requested that he be carried up the House wing steps.

James A. Garfield's coffin lying in state on the Lincoln Catafalque in the Capitol Rotunda, 1881.

Upon the coffin's arrival at the Rotunda of the United States Capitol Building, the official state funeral itself, is administered by members of the United States Congress. Afterward, the honoree's body either lies in state or lies in honor for public viewing. Although lying in state continues throughout the night and possibly for several days, it differs from lying in repose. An honor guard, whose members represent each branch of the armed forces, will rotate periodically in order to relieve previous honor guards during their constant vigil of the remains. Public viewing is allowed continuously during the lying in state until one hour before the departure ceremony begins.

A national memorial service is held in Washington, D.C. It is traditionally held at Washington National Cathedral or at another church or cathedral, depending on the family or honoree's wishes. Two examples of this were for John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. President Kennedy's memorial service was held at St. Matthew's Cathedral, as he was a Roman Catholic, while President Johnson's memorial service was at National City Christian Church, as he worshipped there often while president.

Various foreign dignitaries, heads of state, royalty, and government officials attend. On the matter of seating arrangements, the family of the deceased is immediately followed by federal government officials, and then by foreign heads of state who are arranged alphabetically by the English spelling of their countries. Royalty representing heads of state, such as princes and dukes, come next, followed by heads of government, such as prime ministers and premiers. During the memorial service, military top brass sit in the north transept and extended family members sit in the south transept, if the memorial service is held at Washington National Cathedral.

Immediately after the memorial service is completed, the body travels to its final resting place for interment. Before the mid 20th-century, the body was moved long distances across the country by a funeral train procession, where thousands of citizens would line the railroad tracks to pay homage. VIP transport in recent decades between the deceased honoree's home state and Washington, D.C. has been aboard one of the two Boeing VC-25 jets in the presidential fleet which are operated by the United States Air Force. As protocol dictates, any deceased president whose remains are flown on an air force jet are not entitled to use the call sign Air Force One since this call sign is exclusively reserved for any aircraft in the air force with a sitting and living president onboard. The departure and arrival ceremonies held at Andrews Air Force Base as well as the final destination of interment are met with a 21-gun salute, honor guard, and a service band as the coffin is loaded on and unloaded off a Boeing VC-25.

Funeral arrangements

Since state funerals in the United States are elaborate affairs, they must be planned years in advance. Each living president, sitting or former, is required to have funeral plans in place on becoming president. However, these details become more important after a president leaves office, and serves to reduce stress for the president's family in an era of worldwide media scrutiny.

The Military District of Washington (MDW) has primary responsibility in overseeing state funerals and in all cases, must strictly follow a 138-page planning document. Additionally, in the aftermath of the events of September 11, 2001, the Secretary of Homeland Security has declared state funerals to be a National Security Special Event. Thus, these occasions are of great importance to the nation which are in itself, a potential target for terrorists. This designation authorizes the United States Secret Service to implement all security arrangements and protection of all federal government officials. [6]

Argentina

Juan Perón, Eva Perón and Raul Alfonsín have had all state funerals.

Canada

In Canada, those entitled to state funerals include current and former governors general and prime ministers, as well as other eminent Canadians as decreed by the government. On November 21, 2006, Parliament approved a state funeral for Canada's last First World War veteran. [2]

The body arrives on Parliament Hill by hearse. On arrival, an honour guard meets the hearse and escorts the body into the centre block of Parliament Hill in a simple ceremony. The honour guard is drawn from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for a prime minister or from the Governor General's Foot Guards for a governor general.

Lying in state occurs in the Senate Chamber in the case of a governor general, or in the Hall of Honour for a prime minister, and usually lasts for two days. There are designated hours each day for public viewing during the lying in state.

Similar to the United States and the United Kingdom, there are guards at each corner of the coffin. The guards are from the RCMP and Canadian Forces. In the case of the governor general, their foot guards also guard the coffin. With prime ministers, the other guards are from Parliamentary security and Senate security.

As the body is escorted from Parliament Hill to the hearse, a 21-gun salute is fired for governors general or a 19-gun salute in the case of a prime minister. When the funeral service is held in Ottawa, it is usually held at Christ Church Cathedral.

Ireland

Main article: List of Irish state funerals

Australia

In Australia, State Funerals are increasingly offered to persons of general celebrity.

New South Wales

State Funerals held in NSW are subject to a policy operated since 1966.

Politicians (both current and former) and people holding positions such as Governor and Chief Justice automatically qualify for a State funeral, however the Premier of the State of NSW can offer such a service for those determined to be distinguished citizens of NSW. For example, football (soccer) legend Johnny Warren was given a State Funeral in NSW.

Where the family of the deceased does not wish to have a State funeral, the offer of a State memorial service will be considered.

On 27 November 2007, Bernie Banton, a campaigner for asbestos victims who worked for James Hardie, lost his battle with asbestos-related mesothelioma. His family was offered a state funeral by NSW Premier Morris Iemma.

Queensland

A State Funeral was offered for Steve Irwin in September 2006, but the offer was declined. A state funeral occurred for Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

Victoria

A State Funeral was held in September 2006 for race-car driver Peter Brock. In 2009, a state funeral was held to honour Australian acting icon Charles 'Bud' Tingwell[7]

New Zealand

People draped in the New Zealand flag at the Auckland Domain as the hearse carrying Sir Edmund Hillary's body drives past during his state funeral.

Traditionally, state funerals are reserved for all former Governors-General, as well as Prime Ministers who die in office. Others to receive state funerals include Sir Frederic Truby King (1937) who founded the Plunket Society, the unidentified victims of the Tangiwai rail disaster (1953)[8], Victoria Cross recipient Jack Hinton (1997)[9] and mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary (2008).[10] The offer of a state funeral was refused by the family of former Prime Minister David Lange.[11]

Russia/Soviet Union

Several notable examples of state funerals during the Soviet period would be those of Vladimir Lenin, founder of the USSR, and Joseph Stalin, Premier and General Secretary. Lenin would have a mausoleum built in his honor, despite his rejections for such an idea during his life. Joseph Stalin's body would lie beside Lenin's until being moved to the Kremlin Wall Necropolis several years after his death. Both Lenin and Stalin's funerals were massive events, both with millions of mourners all over the USSR.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Thatcher state funeral undecided". BBC News. BBC. 2008-08-02. Retrieved 2009-03-12. In effect there is little difference between ceremonial and state funerals – with the gun carriage during a state funeral drawn by Royal Navy ratings rather than artillery horses.
  2. ^ The Queen thanks public in televised address - CBC News
  3. ^ Gleick, James (2003). Isaac Newton. Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-375-42233-1.
  4. ^ The Guardian — State funeral planned for Lady Thatcher
  5. ^ Foley, Thomas, "Thousands in Washington Brave Cold to Say Goodby to Johnson," The Los Angeles Times, January 25, 1973
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25490705-601,00.html
  8. ^ "Govt breaks rules for a national hero". January 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Nation's farewell to be broadcast". 2008-01-12. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Radio New Zealand News - Sir Edmund Hillary honoured by state funeral (12 January 2008)
  11. ^ "Lange wanted simple family funeral". August 15, 2005. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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