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The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

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Posted: Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:35 PM

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The Late Billy Graham Given Great Honor As He Will Lie In Honor At U.S. Capitol Next Wednesday and Thursday

WASHINGTON — The world-renown evangelist Billy Graham, who died Wednesday, will lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol next Wednesday and Thursday, with political leaders and the public allowed to pay their respects.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., announced the decision on Thursday. His office said that after Graham’s casket arrives on Feb. 28, Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will take part in a bicameral service honoring the preacher and presidential counselor.

Graham's casket will remain in the Rotunda through March 1, the speaker's office said.

In a letter to Graham's representatives, Ryan and McConnell said the decision was made "in recognition of Rev. Graham's long and distinguished service to the nation."

The tradition of using the Capitol Rotunda to pay tribute to distinguished Americans began in 1852, but historically that honor has been given to military officers and elected officials who have "lain in state." More recently, Congress has allowed pre-eminent citizens to "lie in honor."

Only three other private citizens have lain in honor, according to a House history of the tradition. The first were two Capitol Police officers who died in the line of duty in 1998: Officer Jacob J. Chestnut, Jr., and Detective John M. Gibson. The third was Rosa Parks, the African-American civil rights hero who died in 2005.