(Plains) The United States’ tribute to former President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29 at the age of 100, began Saturday in his native state of Georgia, opening a ballet of ceremonies until the day of national mourning on January 9.
Democratic President from 1977 to 1981, Jimmy Carter left the international image of a peacemaker whose humanitarian commitment after his only mandate was crowned by a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Upon the announcement of his death, tributes poured in from all over the world.
The six days of ceremonies, which will culminate on January 9 in Washington, kicked off at 10:15 a.m. Saturday (10:15 a.m. Eastern Time), when Secret Service agents responsible for protection of political figures, carried his coffin.
The convoy first traveled through Plains, his small hometown to which he was so attached.
Many of them gathered along the streets, waving small American flags, to pay a final tribute to the country’s child.
In front of the family farm where he grew up, the bell rang 39 times, in homage to the 39e president of the United States.
PHOTO ALEX BRANDON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
The six days of ceremonies kicked off at 10:15 a.m. Saturday (10:15 a.m. Eastern) when Secret Service agents, responsible for protecting political figures, carried his coffin .
“Special Air Mission 39”
Then head to Atlanta, capital of Georgia, with a moment of contemplation in front of the capitol of this southeastern state, where he was a local senator before becoming governor.
Then the hearse will arrive at the Carter Center, the foundation created in 1982 by the former president and his wife Rosalynn Carter, who died in 2023 at age 96.
His commitment to this foundation, specializing in conflict prevention, the defense of democracy and public health issues around the world, earned him a warm tribute from the head of the World Health Organization.
From 7 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Americans are invited to pay their respects at the remains of the former president.
On Tuesday morning, his family will accompany the late Jimmy Carter aboard the official plane called “Special Air Mission 39”, heading to Washington.
PHOTO ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Citizens in Plains, Georgia, wait for Jimmy Carter’s casket to pass by.
A convoy will take him to the US Navy Memorial, the US Navy. Jimmy Carter graduated from the Naval Academy in 1946 and later became a submariner.
Arranged on a box, his coffin will be pulled by a horse during a funeral procession at 2 p.m. towards the Capitol, seat of Congress in the capital.
The deceased will be transported by soldiers to the Rotunda, a room located below the dome of the Capitol, for a tribute ceremony at 3 p.m. in the presence of parliamentarians.
His remains will then be exhibited and the public is invited to come and pay their respects from 7 p.m. to midnight Tuesday, then from 7 a.m. Wednesday to 7 a.m. Thursday.
It will be the 13the former president to be displayed at the Capitol. Abraham Lincoln, assassinated in 1865, was the first.
Trump and Biden at the funeral
In tribute, American flags were flown at half-mast for 30 days, including January 20, angering the president-elect, who said Friday that “no one wanted to see” this during his inauguration ceremony.
Living former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama are also expected to attend.
The coffin will then board the same “Special Air Mission 39” for the deceased’s final journey to Georgia.
A private funeral will be held at a Baptist church in Plains at 3:45 p.m.
The public is invited to watch the convoy pass through his hometown of around 600 people.
Shortly after arriving at the Carter residence, US Navy planes will fly over his beloved city in tribute to this former submariner, who became – as president – commander in chief of the armed forces.
He will be buried at 5:20 p.m., privately, alongside his wife of 77 years.
