Dwight D. Eisenhower - Final Post
October 14, 1890 to March 28, 1969
Flag at half-staff in Washington D.C.
photo 71-456-4
U.S. Army - public domain
President Dwight D. Eisenhower died on March 28, 1969 at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. His body was transferred to Gawler Funeral Home for burial preparation.
March 29, 1969
11 AM - The body arrived at Bethlehem Chapel, Washington National Cathedral, with honor escort of generals and admirals. After a brief ceremony for family, honor guard and honorary civilian pall bearers, the body laid in repose for 28 hours.
March 30, 1969
3 PM - The casket was carried from Chapel to hearse. Cortege moved to 16th and Constitution Avenue, where the casket was placed on a caisson.
3:30 PM - The funeral procession moved down Constitution Avenue to the Capitol for ceremony, musical honors and a 21-gun salute. Inside the Capitol rotunda, the eulogy was delivered by President Richard Nixon, a presidential wreath was placed by casket and the body to lie in state until the following morning.
5 PM - Public admitted to Capitol rotunda to file past casket.
March 31, 1969
4 PM - The casket was carried to hearse for return to Washington National Cathedral.
4:30 PM - Arrival ceremony at Cathedral's North Transept, followed by Episcopal funeral service in Cathedral attended by 2,107 persons admitted by ticket.
5 PM - Casket placed in hearse for trip to Union Station.
April 2, 1969
Arrival of funeral train in Abilene, Kansas
10:30 AM - The funeral in Abilene took place on the grounds of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. The service began on the steps of the Library and concluded inside the Place of Meditation, the chapel where Eisenhower is buried.
Interior of the Place of Meditation
staff photographer - public domain
Located across from the Eisenhower Home is the Place of Meditation, the final resting place of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States. In November 1979 Mamie Doud Eisenhower was interred in the building. Dwight and Mamie's first born son, Doud Dwight, was interred in 1966. The Place of Meditation was built with private funds under the auspices of the Eisenhower Presidential Library Commission.
Outstanding elements of the interior design of the Place of Meditation are the richly colored windows, the Travertine marble wall panels, the walnut woodwork, and the large embroidered hanging, which carries the words of the prayer that President Eisenhower wrote for his first Inaugural Address, on January 20, 1953. There is a meditation portion of the building where, according to General Eisenhower's wishes, it was hoped that visitors would reflect upon the ideals that made this a great nation and pledge themselves again to continued loyalty to those ideals.
Casket
$80 Government Issue requested by Eisenhower. The only difference between his casket and those furnished for any soldier buried by the Army is an inner glass seal that cost an extra $115. It was lined with tailored eggshell crepe.
Vault
Bronze and cement. Both Dwight and Mamie's graves are covered with a marble slab.
Markers
11 3/4" x 8" x 3/4" bronze
Marker Inscriptions
| DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER BORN OCTOBER 14, 1890 DIED MARCH 28, 1969 |
DOUD DWIGHT EISENHOWER BORN SEPTEMBER 24, 1917 DIED JANUARY 2, 1921 |
MAMIE DOUD EISENHOWER BORN NOVEMBER 14, 1896 DIED NOVEMBER 1, 1979 |
General Dwight D. Eisenhower was buried in his World War II uniform. It consists of “pink” trousers and the green “Ike” jacket that he made famous. Although he was one of the most decorated military men in history, his uniform had only the following medals: Army Distinguished Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit.
There were four gun salutes during the Eisenhower funeral ceremonies:
1. When the body was taken to the Capitol, a saluting battery (1 officer and 13 enlisted men) fired a 21-gun salute at 5 second intervals.
2. When the body arrived at Union Station, a saluting battery (1 officer and 13 enlisted men) fired a 21-gun salute beginning when the hearse entered Delaware Avenue with the last shot fired as the hearse stopped at the entrance at Union Station.
3. Before benediction in Place of Meditation, six howitzers manned by 2 officers and 36 enlisted men delivered a 21-gun salute.
4. After benediction, a firing party (8 members) discharged three volleys.
Honorary Pall Bearers - Washington, D.C.
General Omar Bradley
Admiral Arthur Radford
General Lauris Norstad
Edgar Eisenhower
MiltonEisenhower
General J. Lawton Collins
General Wade H. Haislip
General Alfred M. Gruenther
M/Sgt. John Moaney
Col.G. Gordon Moore
Honorary Pall Bearers - Abilene, Kansas
Edgar Eisenhower
Milton Eisenhower*
General Omar Bradley
General J. Lawton Collins
General Lauris Norstad
General Wade H. Haislip
General Alfred M. Gruenther
General Leonard Heaton
Admiral George W. Anderson
Admiral Lewis Strauss
Col. G. Gordon Moore
M/Sgt. John Moaney
*Milton Eisenhower became ill and was hospitalized. General Andrew Goodpaster substituted for him as an honorary pall bearer.
Special Honor Guard in Abilene
Major General Linton S. Boatwright, Commanding General of the 24th Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas
Major General B. G. Owens, Jr., Assistant Chief of Staff United States Marine Corps
Major General J. T. Robbins, Commanding General of the Twelfth Air Force, Austin, Texas
Rear Admiral H. A. Renken, Commandant of the Ninth Naval District, Cleveland, Ohio
Rear Admiral R. R. Waesche, Commander of the Second Coast Guard District, St. Louis, Missouri
Music
Funeral Service for Dwight D. Eisenhower in Washington Cathedral Chorale
Prelude, "Schmucke dich, o liebe Seele," Johann Sebastian Bach
Chorale - Prelude, "O Welt, ich muss dich lassen," Johannes Brahms
Choir - "The Palms"
Hymn (All) - "Onward Christian Soldiers"
United States Marine Band - "Army Blue," "Lead Kindly Light"
Some of the songs played by the Fifth Army Band in Abilene, Kansas for the funeral
"Ruffles and Flourishes"
"Hail to the Chief"
"God of Our Fathers"
"Onward, Christian Soldiers"
"Stars and Stripes"
"Lead, Kindly Light"
"National Anthem"
"Army Blue"
"West Point Alma Mater"
Carillon Music
By the Fifth Army at the Place of Meditation, Abilene, Kansas
"The Old Rugged Cross" (played by Spec. IV David Ralph, 5th Army, Fort Sheridan, Illinois)
"America the Beautiful" (Tape)
Eulogy delivered by President Richard Nixon at the Capitol Rotunda - March 30, 1969
Washington Cathedral Funeral Service - March 31, 1969
Prayers and Reading, Washington Cathedral Funeral Service - March 31, 1969
Funeral Service Program, Abilene, Kansas - April 2, 1969
Memorial Service, Abilene, Kansas - April 2, 1969
