Jimmy Carter’s funeral service today

Carter’s is the fifth official national funeral service for a president that has been held in the National Cathedral, following Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, the Very Rev. Randolph Hollerith, the dean of the National Cathedral, told reporters Wednesday. 

But “every funeral itself, whether it’s presidential or otherwise, is completely unique,” Hollerith added. 

He said that the cathedral generally has a limited period of time to prepare, “often eight to 10 days.” The news of Carter’s death meant “the entire Cathedral — all staff and everyone — we all went into the mode of preparing to honor him.”

The service will comprise readings, prayers, eulogies a homily, and “there’ll be lots of beautiful music, and there will be a military honor guard presence,” Hollerith said.

“It’ll be very dignified, and yet at the same time, very joyous,” he added.

Hollerith believes that it’s the setting aside of partisan rancor for the service that Carter would appreciate. 

“When we do a presidential funeral or a national gathering like this, it brings together left and right, Republicans and Democrats — both sides of the aisle in the Washington, D.C., area — come together,” Hollerith said. “And I know he would love seeing America come together.”

— Gillian Morley