On State Funeral Traditions

The following comes from The Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region. While this isn't a schedule of President Ford's funeral, it lists state funeral traditions.


STATE FUNERAL CEREMONIAL TRADITIONS

FORT LESLEY J. MCNAIR, D.C. - A state funeral is a funeral conducted by a nation to honor a head of state. Despite the immediate family's personal loss, much of the funeral remains open to the public, which shares in the loss of a national leader. Foreign countries also mourn the loss of a former head of state and their participation generates its own protocol.

Military regulations provide guidance for how the United States conducts a state funeral and all involved ceremonies. While military regulation, tradition and protocol influence state funerals, personalized plans are developed to reflect family desires. Typically, family desires determine the number, location and sequence of public ceremonies and observances consistent with military regulations.

For example, in keeping with the wishes of the family, President Nixon's funeral took place during a two-day period in California from April 26-27, 1994 and included no ceremonies in Washington. President Reagan’s funeral took place over a five-day period from June 6-12, 2004 and included services and ceremonies in Washington and California.

The following list identifies the customary elements of a state funeral.

NOTE: This does not reflect the schedule for the state funeral of former President Gerald R. Ford. The official schedule will be released at a later time.

·Formal notification of demise to all branches of government, foreign countries and the public.
·Repose in home state
·Movement to Washington, D.C.
·Repose at Bethlehem Chapel
·Casket transfer from hearse to horse-drawn caisson at the intersection of 16th Street and Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C.
·Main funeral procession along Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C.
·Lying in State at the U.S. Capitol
·Funeral service in Washington, D.C.
·Movement to place of final rest
·Private funeral service and interment