Itenerary for Ford's State Funeral Announced

Former President of the United States, Gerald Ford, will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, then be entombed in Grand Rapids, MI. For a short period of time as well, the casket will lie in repose outside the doors of both the House and the Senate for a short while, to commemorate his service in the Congress. Ford will become only the 11th President to have lied in state in the Capitol Rotunda.

Similar to plans for Ronald Reagan's farewell ceremonies, the funeral for Ford will take place in three stages. Stage One will occur in Palm Desert, California. Stage Two will occur in Washington, D.C., and the third stage will be in Grand Rapids, MI. The official schedule of events is as follows:

Stage One: California
Friday, December 29, 2006:
12:20 pm PST: Ford's remains will be received with a military ceremony at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, where there will be an arrival ceremony, a private family prayer service and visitation.

Saturday, December 30, 2006:
9 - 9:45 am PST - Ford's remains will lie in repose at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church. A Guard of Honor will attend the remains. The public is invited to attend this repose.
9:45 am PST - The casket will depart the church with a ceremony and will be transported to Palm Springs Regional Airport. The public is invited to pay their respects along the motorcade route.
10:15 am PST - Plan departs airport with remains and will be flown to Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

Stage Two: Washington, D.C.
Saturday, December 30, 2006:
5:20 pm EST: President Ford's remains will arrive with a ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base. Casket will then be part of a motorcade en route to the U.S. Capitol. The motorcade will travel through Alexandria, Virginia, in remembrance to Ford's long residence in that city as both a Congressman and as Vice President of the United States. 5:35 pm EST: Motorcade will pause at the World War II Memorial. Veterans of any war, as well as the public, are invited to attend this tribute.
6:30 pm EST: Motorcade will proceed to the U.S. Capitol and be received with a ceremony at the East Steps to the U.S. House of Representatives. The casket will proceed up to the East House Steps in honor of his 24 years as a U.S. Congressman. Former House colleagues will be in attendance.

The casket will then be carried through Statuary Hall, then moved to the Rotunda to lay in State. President Ford's remains will lie in state with a Guard of Honor until Tuesday, January 2 at 9:15 am EST. Public viewing will be allowed during this time.

Tuesday, January 2, 2007:
9:30 am EST: The remains will depart the Rotunda and rest at the closed Senate doors in honor of his service as both Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate. The motorcade will then proceed to the Washington National Cathedral, passing the White House en route.
10 am EST: The remains will be received with a ceremony at the Washington National Cathedral. At 10:30 am, a national funeral service will be held.
11:30 am EST: Following the service, the remains will depart with another ceremony. A motorcade will transport the casket from the cathedral to Andrews Air Force Base, with a departure ceremony scheduled for 12:15 pm EST.

Stage Three: Michigan.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007:
2:15 pm EST: President Ford's remains will arrive and be received with a ceremony at Gerald R. Ford International Airport. A motorcade will then move the casket to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum for a brief private service. During the service, wreaths will be placed at the casket by the presidents of Yale University and the University of Michigan in honor of Ford's college careers at both institutions.
3:30 pm EST: Service will conclude and President Ford's remains will lie in repose. The public is invited to pay their respects at the museum during repose.

Wednesday, January 3, 2007:
1 pm EST - President Ford's remains will depart the museum with a ceremony and then proceed to Grace Episcopal Church for a private funeral service for invited guests only. The casket will be received with a ceremony at 1:30.
3 pm EST - The remains will depart the church with another ceremony and then proceed back to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum for a private interment service, which will last a half-hour.

(Click here to view the official press release page)