State funerals are granted by law in the U.S. to sitting Presidents, Presidents-elect and former Presidents. The sitting President can grant a state funeral for other individuals. The first State Funeral since Lyndon B. Johnson’s was for President Ronald Reagan in 2004. Richard Nixon did not have a State funeral. A State funeral was also held for President Gerald Ford in 2006.
The Vice President is entitled to an “Official Funeral” as are the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Cabinet members, other government officials as designated by the President,, and foreign civil dignitaries when designated by the President. The only recent Vice President funeral was Nelson A. Rockefeller’s in 1979. Rockefeller’s funeral was a small, private service at his home followed by a memorial service in New York City (http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0C17F93D5D12728DDDA90B94D9405B898BF1D3&scp=3&sq=funeral%20Nelson%20A.%20Rockefeller&st=cse).
If this is a sitting Vice President (especially one with military service) it’s possible that he would be granted a State Funeral. If he is a retired Vice President then he might have a civil service but the same level of dignitaries might attend.
There have been no funerals for major political figures at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in recent times. Attached are images from William F. Buckley’s memorial and a memorial for journalist David Bloom that show what the clergy would wear.
The Military District of Washington (MDW) has primary planning responsibilities for both State and Official funerals. Also attached is a link to their primary manual for such funerals and the specific information on protocol for the funeral services themselves. After 9-11 the Secretary for Homeland Security has declared State Funerals to be National Security Special Events because they are events of political importance and therefore possible terrorist targets.
1. President Ronald Reagan
June 11, 2004
National Cathedral – Washington DC
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/images/20040611-2_hp8c1663-515h.html
(The pix from the above has disappeared, here's a link to a google search for "State Funeral Protocol" http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=state+funeral+protocol&btnG=Google+Search&aq=1&oq=state+funeral)
2. Foreign Dignitaries at Reagan’s funeral
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/g/a/2004/06/13/reagangallery.DTL&o=24
Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, left, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
3. President Gerald Ford
National Cathedral
December 30, 2006
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/12/images/20061230-1_v123006db-0400w-515h.html
4. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Monday, March 31 2003.
St. Patrick’s Church, Washington & Arlington National Cemetery
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/dpmoynihan.htm
5. William F. Buckley
Memorial Mass
St. Patrick’s Cathedral – NYC
April 4, 2008
http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/images/Pictures/Programs/204715/204715-m.jpg
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0eMP6ba8xL2nG
http://www.daylife.com/search?q=memorial+mass+for+William+F.+Buckley+Jr.&submit_query.x=0&submit_query.y=0&submit_query=search
6. David Bloom, Journalist
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
April 16, 2003
Priests
http://www.jamd.com/image/in-search/david+bloom+funeral/#8g2338832
ARMY PAMPHLET – STATE, OFFICIAL & SPECIAL MILITARY FUNERALS
http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/p1_1.pdf
The detailed guide used for the planning and execution of State and Official, Military Funerals. Includes information about who will attend, seating charts, military details, flowers, ceremonies, fly over’s, and processions. These plans focus primarily on funerals to be held in Washington. If the funeral is to be held elsewhere, provisions are made to draw up a reasonably identical set of plans.
State Funeral
Section VII
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF REMAINS AT FUNERAL SERVICE
40. General.
a. The funeral service when conducted in the Washington, D.C., area may be conducted for Protestants in the
Washington National Cathedral (fig 20, 21, 22, 23), for Catholics in Saint Matthew’s Cathedral (fig 24, 25, 26, 27), or
for any denomination in the Memorial Amphitheater, Arlington National Cemetery (para 74 through 77), or at any
other place of worship.
b. Paragraph not used.
41. Participating personnel
a. Civilian group:
(1) President of the United States and party.
(2) Chiefs of State and Heads of Government.
(3) Vice President of the United States and party.
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DA PAM 1–1/OPNAVINST 5360.1/AFM 143–2/CG 390 • 30 December 1965
(4) Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
(5) Chief Justice and Associate Justices (active and retired), Marshal, Clerk, (U.S. Supreme Court).
(6) Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.
(7) Members of the Cabinet.
(8) State and Territorial Governors.
(9) Family.
(10) Honorary pallbearers (not to exceed 10).
(11) Clergy.
(12) Other official mourners.
(13) The wives of the above dignitaries will be pre-positioned at their seats at the place of the funeral service.
b. Military personnel:
(1) Special honor guard (para 31b(1)).*
(2) Escort commander (CG, MDW*).
(3) Assistant to Usher OIC.
(a) Foreign liaison office.
(b) Legislative liaison office.
(c) Protocol office.
(4) Ceremony site control officer (provided by 1st Bn (Reinf), 3d Inf).
(5) The U.S. Marine Band.
(6) U.S. Army (1st En (Reinf), 3d Inf).
(a) Commander of troops.
(b) Two body bearers.
(c) Security cordon.
(d) One color bearer (National Color).
(e) Six EM for a joint honor cordon (maximum requirement).
(f) Six officer ushers, maximum requirement, one to be OIC of usher detail. See figures 22 and 26.
(g) Sixty-nine EM ushers, maximum requirement (fig 22 and 26).
(h) Press cordon.
(7) USAG (Fort Myer) floral detail (para 145, 146, and 147).
(8) U.S. Marine Corps (HQ, USMC).
(a) Two body bearers.
(b) One color guard (National Color).
(c) Six EM for a joint honor cordon (maximum requirement).
(d) Five officer ushers, maximum requirement (fig 22 and 26).
(e) Sixty-nine EM ushers, maximum requirement (fig 22 and 26).
(9) U.S. Navy (Naval District Washington).
(a) Two body bearers.
(b) One color guard (National Color).
(c) Six seamen for a joint honor cordon (maximum requirement).
(d) Five officer ushers, maximum requirement (fig 22 and 26).
(e) Sixty-nine seamen ushers, maximum requirement (fig 22 and 26).
(10) U.S. Air Force (Headquarters Command, USAF).
(a) Two body bearers.
(b) One flag bearer (personal flag).
(c) Six airmen for a joint honor cordon (maximum requirement).
(d) Five officer ushers, maximum requirement (fig 22 and 26).
(e) Sixty-nine airmen ushers, maximum requirement (fig 22 and 26).
(11) U.S. Coast Guard (USCG Headquarters).
(a) Two body bearers.
(b) Six seamen for a joint honor cordon (maximum requirement).
(c) One officer usher, maximum requirement (fig 22 and 26).
(d) Eight seamen ushers, maximum requirement (fig 22 and 26).
(12) Surgeon, MDW—Medical Support.
42. Official mourners with spouses.
See figures 22 and 26. Space available in likely locations for State Funeral is the limiting factor.
18 DA PAM 1–1/OPNAVINST 5360.1/AFM 143–2/CG 390 • 30 December 1965
a. Ex-Presidents.
b. Diplomatic Corps.
c. Widows of ex-Presidents.
d. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
e. Chief Justice and Associate Justices (active and retired), Marshal, Clerk, (U.S. Supreme Court).
f. Friends of the family of the deceased.
g. Senate-President pro tem and Chairmen Of Senate Committees.
h. U.S. Senate Majority Leader.
i. U.S. Senate Majority Whip.
j. U.S. Senate Minority Leader.
k. U.S. Senate Minority Whip.
l. Members of the U.S. Senate.
m. U.S. House Majority Leader.
n. U.S. House Majority Whip.
o. U.S. House Minority Leader.
p. U.S. House Minority Whip.
q. Chairmen of the U.S. House Committees.
r. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
s. Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force and the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (for U.S. Coast Guard
affairs).
t. Director of the Bureau of the Budget.
u. Under Secretaries of Executive Departments.
v. Generals of the Army and the Air Force and Fleet Admirals.
w. Director of Central Intelligence Agency.
x. Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers.
y. Director of Defense Research and Engineering.
z. Director of Peace Corps.
aa. Heads of selected independent agencies. See appendix B.
ab. Director of the Office of Emergency Planning.
ac. Special Assistants to the President.
ad. Four Star Generals and Admirals, active and retired.
ae. Bishops of Washington.
af. D.C. Commissioners.
ag. Other official mourners.
ah. Press.
43. Ceremony at the funeral site for the arrival of the remains.
See figures 21, 22, 24, 25, and 26. For Ceremony at Memorial Amphitheater, Arlington National Cemetery, see paragraphs 74-77.
a. The size and location of the joint honor cordon and security cordon will be determined by the ceremony site control officer depending upon the location selected for the funeral services. The joint honor cordon will be formed to flank the route which the casket will follow from the hearse to the entrance of the site of the funeral. The security cordon will enclose the immediate area where the ceremony will take place. The first, second and third (final) positions of the National Color and personal flag are shown in figures 20 and 24.
b. Official mourners attending services at the funeral site, but not participating in the funeral cortege from the Capitol, will park in the provided parking areas and be seated 15 minutes prior to the arrival of the cortege.
c. As the funeral cortege arrives at the funeral site, the joint honor cordon will be brought to ATTENTION and will remain at attention until all members of the cortege have entered. When all members of the cortege are seated, the ceremony site control officer will have the body bearers take their positions behind the hearse and the honorary pallbearers will take their positions (fig 20 and 24). The joint honor cordon will be brought to PRESENT ARMS and the band will play the appropriate musical honors followed by a hymn. On the first note of the hymn the body bearers will secure the casket and proceed through the joint honor cordon into the funeral site preceded by the escort commander, National Color team, clergy, and followed by the personal flag and honorary pallbearers. Once inside the funeral site a church truck may be used, if desired.
d. When the funeral procession has entered the funeral site, the joint honor cordon will be brought to ORDER ARMS and PARADE REST. In the event of a lengthy service the ceremonial elements may be moved to a rest area at the discretion of the ceremony site control officer until required for departure ceremonies.
e. The ushers will seat the mourners as they arrive and assist the guide officers in locating the seating areas for the members of the cortege.
f. Following the funeral service, the escort commander and the honorary pallbearers will assume their positions for the departure ceremony. The ushers and guide officer will control the departure of those attending the funeral in order that the members of the cortege may return to their vehicles as expeditiously as possible upon conclusion of the ceremony.
g. Procession to depart with the casket will be in the following order:
(1) National Color team.
(2) Clergy.
(3) Casket.
(4) Personal flag bearer.
(5) Family and President.
(6) Chiefs of State and Heads of Government.
(7) Special Honor Guard (para 31b(1)).
43. Ceremony at the funeral site for the departure of the remains.
See figures 25 and 27. For ceremony at Memorial Amphitheater, Arlington National Cemetery, see paragraphs 64 through 67.
a. As the National Color team takes its position at the head of the procession the joint honor cordon will be brought to ATTENTION and PRESENT ARMS. When the casket reaches the entrance the procession will stop and the band will render appropriate musical honors followed by a hymn. On the first note of the hymn the casket will be carried through the joint honor cordon and secured in the hearse. The family and the remainder of the procession will observe the ceremony from the entrance. After the casket has been placed in the hearse the joint honor cordon will be brought to ORDER ARMS and the members of the procession will proceed directly to their vehicles.
b. Official mourners attending service at Arlington National Cemetery who did not arrive with the cortege will proceed to the Cemetery via preselected routes.
c. Upon signal of the ceremony site control officer the escort commander will lead the cortege to the casket transfer point.
Official Funeral
96. At other than Arlington National Cemetery.
a. If place of repose and funeral site are the same, disregard the sequence of events pertaining to movement from place of repose.
b. Participating Personnel. See paragraphs 41 and 42.
(*same as State Funeral above)
c. Ceremonies at location of funeral. See paragraphs 43 and 44.
(*same as State Funeral Above)
