Sen. Lindsey Graham Honored with Funeral Ceremonies in Washington and South Carolina

World leaders, President Donald Trump, and officials are set to pay their respects to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away suddenly at the age of 71. He was a key figure in Washington, having been an influential lawmaker on Capitol Hill.

Two days of funeral events are planned. The proceedings start Tuesday in Washington and will continue in Graham’s home state of South Carolina, which he represented for over thirty years in Congress.

On Tuesday morning, an armed forces body bearer team will carry Graham’s casket, honoring his military service. Graham served as an Air Force JAG and retired as a colonel in 2015.

Although Graham will not lie in state, he will be honored with a special ceremony in the Capitol’s rotunda. A U.S. Capitol Police memorial guard will replace the armed forces team to recognize Graham’s Senate service. The ceremony is private but will be livestreamed for public viewing.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune highlighted Graham’s dedication to public service, stating, “Lindsey dedicated his life to giving back through public service.” He added, “it seems fitting for his friends and colleagues to give back to him through this special Capitol honor.”

Following the Capitol ceremony, Graham’s casket will proceed to Washington National Cathedral for a funeral service at 2 p.m. ET. This event will also be livestreamed, and attendees will include Trump, cabinet officials, congressional and military leaders.

International dignitaries, such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who collaborated with Graham on defense and foreign policies, will be present. Trump will meet individually with Netanyahu and Zelenskyy on Tuesday.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, to complete the remainder of his Senate term after his sudden passing. Darline announced her intention to run for a full, six-year term; she is tasked with organizing her brother’s funeral services and preparing for the upcoming primary election on August 11.

After the Washington services, Graham will make his final journey to South Carolina. His funeral procession, taking place Wednesday at about 10:45 a.m. ET, invites public attendance as the casket passes through the South Carolina State House in Columbia, where Graham’s political journey began in 1993.

The procession will feature Graham’s casket transported by a horse-drawn military wagon from the South Carolina State Guard, with law enforcement presentations on the north steps of the State House. At approximately 11 a.m., an F-16 flyover from the 169th Fighter Wing will occur.

Main Street will host the caisson, ending at the First Baptist Church of Columbia for a funeral service. Graham will be privately interred in Pickens County, South Carolina, where he and his sister, Darline, grew up.

Senator Lindsey Graham died due to cardiac arrest on the night of July 11 at his home near the U.S. Capitol. He had returned from Kyiv, Ukraine, where he met with Zelenskyy. Prior to his death, Graham was slated to appear on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”

Graham’s office announced the preliminary cause of death as “aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease,” resulting from hardened arteries. Results from further tests, including toxicology, are pending.