The State Funeral was held for Jimmy Carter today at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. I found it to be very moving.
In case you missed it, it is on YouTube from several sources. I have it above for you. I think it was just over 3 1/2 hours, but it is absolutely worth watching every minute, I promise. If you don't have time to watch it all, just go forward until you are at the 2:44 time. That is when Andy Young delivered the Homily. Please, be sure and listen to that. (For some reason, the camera is mostly on the ex-Presidents at that time, but it is Andy Young that I want you to hear.) As one of the TV announcers pointed out afterwards, Andy Young spoke most eloquently and without looking at any notes.
As you all know, Jimmy Carter was from Plains, Georgia. (Although he really was from a place even smaller, a community about 3 miles from Plains called "Archery".) He wrote of his upbringing during the Depression in his book, "An Hour Before Daylight". I highly recommend it!
With love and respect, that is one of the phrases that I remember from this service. It is with love and respect that I will remember him. He is our longest living U.S. President and the only one from my home state.
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There was another service that they showed on the local Atlanta station this evening. It was from Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, where he taught Sunday School for many years. Jimmy Carter will be laid to rest in Plains, Georgia, beside his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter. (I am thankful that all these services happened before tomorrow as Georgia will have a "weather event". Snow is predicted! Wish us luck, Southern folks can't handle snow.)
"Let There Be Peace on Earth (And Let It Begin with Me").
Can I hear an "Amen"? AMEN!
It was a beautiful service. He was such a virtuous man and every speaker spoke of that. We could use some Jimmy Carters in the world right now.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. May he be an example to us all but most especially to those in public office.
DeleteHe did many good things.
ReplyDeleteHe really did, so much it was hard to fit it all into a service.
DeleteThe greatest. Brenda
ReplyDeleteI know it is a cliche to call them the greatest generation but since that is also my Dad's generation, I tend to think that it is true.
DeleteAmen! And may he rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteMay in rest in the peace of the Lord.
DeleteIt was very nice to watch. (I just wish one of the attendees was capable of absorbing the "sermon.") Georgia should be proud of Carter. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteWere you able to hear me speaking to the TV? LOL! And Georgia is very proud of the Carters, both Jimmy and Rosalynn. (I noticed several said "ROZ-a-lyn" but it should be "ROSE-a-lyn".)
DeleteI love that photo of the sunset. I watched a lot of it and thought it was very nice.
ReplyDeleteI thought that sunset was just right.
DeleteI was working, but our main news at 8:00 pm on one of the national TV stations had some highlights of the service.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up as a child in a part of Germany with a large US American presence, Jimmy Carter's face was the first I consciously knew as him being the President of the United States, even though at that age I hardly understood what that meant.
We knew (and cared) little about him as a person, with a host of our own politicians and events taking priority, but I have the utmost respect for any couple (like my own parents!) staying together for all their lives - it says a lot about a person to achieve that.
Jimmy Carter might have been a man from a small town in Georgia but he was truly a citizen of the world. He was one of only four presidents to win the Nobel Peace Prize. And of those (Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Barack Obama being the other three), I think Jimmy Carter deserved it the most. "He truly listened", that is also another phrase from his service. Wish we had more like him now. He and his wife, Rosalynn were an extraordinary couple and I am proud that they are both from Georgia!
DeleteA heartfelt and dignified farewell to a great American.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra. I never am able to write when it is something close to my hear.
DeleteReading over this again, I believe you meant that his service was dignified and heartfelt. It truly was.
DeleteAmen and may he rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteDid you get any snow?
We got three inches - so much fun.
My friend said she measured 3 1/2 inches, which is quite a bit for us! I made a tiny snowman, it makes me smile. x
DeleteWe don't do snow well here in Texas either, thankfully the part I live in, we only had rain. North of here they got snow. What a fitting tribute to our longest living President. Amen. Love, ma
ReplyDeleteGlad you got to see the service, MA! If you do get snow, be very careful. No one needs to slip on ice or snow! x
DeleteThank you for sharing this Kay (I was unable to find it on our local TV). He was a good and virtuous man, and deserved this beautiful tribute.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patricia! It was a beautiful service, with the speeches and music combined. I know you like the songs! I knew them all except the very first one they did, I might have to write a post about it, "Lead Me Home".
DeleteAlways got the impression he was a decent hardworking guy, unlike some of the others, yours and our lot over here in the UK, over the past 60 years of silent political observation. Bob.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Carter was most certainly a decent, hard working man. Honest too, which isn't a word usually associated with a politician. Even though he was from small town Georgia, he was a man of the world, always thinking of the planet and ways to improve it. I will miss a man like that.
DeleteI remember him being instrumental in the peace treaty agreements in middle east. He definitely had a servant's heart in how he ministered to those around him by his deeds. Good man.
ReplyDeleteDid you also hear how he helped so much to eliminate guinea worm disease in Africa? How much he did for the environment and to increase public lands? How many houses he helped to build with Habitat for Humanity? And he did so even into his 90's. An extraordinary man , a very good man!
DeleteA respected gentleman, indeed...respect well-earned....
ReplyDeleteHey Lee, Thanks for your comment. His service was so good, I have a link to it here.
DeleteI greatly admired President Carter and his wife Rosalynn, humble people and a great role model to many. There were many things I didn't know about him. As a young naval officer, in 1952 he was lowered into a nuclear reactor when there was a danger of a meltdown. This was in Canada. He and others had 90 seconds to do a task before being exposed. Each 90 seconds they completed a step and were pulled up out of the reactor, timing was crucial. They finally were able to finish the task and avert disaster. It is an amazing story. You can read about it here:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.physicsresourcebank.com/post/jimmy-carter-s-history-in-combatting-a-nuclear-meltdown
Thank you for this wonderful tribute Kay.
Isn't that an amazing story? Thank you for leaving this comment and including the link! Oh, I really do wish I could convey my admiration better than this little post! Still, maybe folks can read the comments, like this one, and get a better picture of this great man.
DeleteWe can. Thank you for posting.
DeletePris cilla King
Thank you! And thanks very much for your comment.
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