The casket of late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham arrived at the United States Capitol on Tuesday afternoon, draped in the American flag ahead of a series of memorial services in Washington. A United States Air Force honor guard team carried the casket into the Senate chamber as a tribute to Graham's lifetime of military service. International leaders and high ranking officials gathered to honor the late lawmaker following his sudden passing two and a half weeks ago.
Vice President JD Vance delivered a eulogy in the Senate chamber praising Graham's warm demeanor toward people from all walks of life. "Lindsey Graham loved people from all walks of life, I think in part because of how he grew up, because of the fact that everything was not handed to him," Vance stated during the service.
Vance highlighted Graham's deep curiosity about the people around him regardless of their position or social status. "He was fascinated by everyone, he was fascinated by the waiting staff in the Senate dining room, he was fascinated by the people who prepared the food, he was fascinated by the lowest level staffer hired three days earlier, he was fascinated, of course, by the actual leadership of our country," Vance noted.
The Vice President described Graham's confidence and commanding presence when walking through government corridors despite his modest physical height. "He was the kind of person who would walk into the Senate, and when he walked into the Senate, this was a man who couldn't have been taller than 5 feet 6 inches or 5 feet 7 inches, but he would walk with confidence with his jacket open as if he were 6 feet 5 inches," Vance remarked.
Vance concluded his tribute by emphasizing Graham's egalitarian approach toward everyone in the Capitol building. "He would walk into the United States Senate, and he would pat you on the back, he would greet the person serving his food, he treated everyone the same way because he was fascinated and loved every single person in that room," Vance added.
Following the Senate ceremony, the casket was transported to the Washington National Cathedral for a main memorial service scheduled for 21:00 local time. President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a memorial address alongside attending international dignitaries, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to statements provided to Reuters, Graham's sister, Darline, was selected to fill his Senate seat until the upcoming midterm elections in November. Following the Washington services, Graham's remains will be transported to South Carolina for a memorial ceremony in Columbia, followed by burial in Pickens County where he grew up and began his career in public service.
