Senator Edward M. Kennedy, beloved patriarch of the Kennedy family, proud son of Massachusetts, champion of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, and one of the most effective lawmakers in the history of the United States Senate, died on August 25, 2009 after a year-long battle with brain cancer.
The Kennedy family released the following statement on the death of Senator Kennedy: “Edward M. Kennedy—the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply—died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port. We’ve lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever. We thank everyone who gave him care and support over this last year, and everyone who stood with him for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice, fairness and opportunity for all. He loved this country and devoted his life to serving it. He always believed that our best days were still ahead, but it’s hard to imagine any of them without him.”
News of the Senator Kennedy’s death elicited an outpouring of collective grief as world leaders, Senate colleagues, local politicians, historians, journalists, and citizens of all ages from across the globe remembered the Senator as a tireless champion for the disenfranchised and less fortunate, a master in the art of bipartisanship, and an unwavering advocate for universal health coverage.
On Wednesday, August 26, Senator Kennedy’s wife, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, announced that, at the Senator’s request, his body would lie in repose at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library – the living memorial to his brother John which Senator Kennedy loved so deeply and once described as “a lighthouse bearing witness to Jack's truth that America at its best can truly light the world.”
Led by the herculean efforts of over 50 members of Senator Kennedy’s current and former Senate staff, and supported by Kennedy Library and Foundation staff and countless volunteers, plans and logistics for all events surrounding the funeral for Senator Kennedy were orchestrated from the Kennedy Library.
On Thursday, following a motorcade from Hyannis Port through historic Boston, Senator Kennedy’s body arrived at the Kennedy Presidential Library where he would lie in repose in the Stephen E. Smith Center through Saturday, August 29.
The Senator was joined in a round-the-clock vigil throughout both days and nights by a military honor guard and by a civilian honor guard of family, friends, and current and former staff.
Within one hour of the line being opened to the public on Thursday, 12,000 people came to pay their respects to Senator Kennedy. By 10 p.m., 21,000 people—from all corners of the world—stood in line to thank Senator Kennedy. At Mrs. Kennedy’s request, hours were extended to 2:00 a.m. so that everyone who had stood in line would be allowed to honor the Senator. It is estimated by Boston Police that as many as 50,000 people viewed Senator Kennedy’s flag-draped casket in less than 20 hours.
Leather bound memorial books were placed throughout the library and its grounds for people to write their condolences. Many wrote of specific acts that Senator Kennedy had taken to help them, while countless others saluted his life of dedication to the people. After sharing the books with Senator Kennedy’s family, they will be permanently archived with Senator Kennedy’s papers at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.
Throughout both days of the public viewing, staff from the Kennedy Library and Red Cross handed out thousands of bottles of water to people in line, many of whom waited over three hours to pay their respects. Volunteers from CityYear, the Boy Scouts of America, and student interns from Senator Kennedy’s staff helped elderly and handicapped visitors to the front of the long line.
Visibly touched by the outpouring of support, Vicki Kennedy repeatedly went outside to greet and thank the thousands of citizens waiting in line to pay tribute to her husband. She also stood vigil by her husband’s casket during both days, shaking hands and offering a word of thanks and appreciation to those who walked by the Senator lying in repose. Other members of the Kennedy family, including Senator Kennedy’s children Kara, Ted, Patrick, Curran and Caroline, joined Mrs. Kennedy in thanking the thousands of mourners waiting in line to express their sympathy.
On Friday evening, a private memorial honored Senator Kennedy and his love of family and friends, his passion for life and his commitment to public service. The Celebration of Life Memorial was a way for the people closest to Senator Kennedy to remember his life—with his love of music, laughter and stories with friends and family he adored. Many members of Senator Kennedy’s family and close friends participated in the program, including Paul G. Kirk, Jr., Board Chairman of the Kennedy Library Foundation and a close friend and advisor; Vice President Joseph R. Biden; nephew Joseph P. Kennedy II; U.S. Senators John Kerry, Christopher J. Dodd, John McCain, and Orrin Hatch; Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick; and close friends Nick Littlefield and Senator John C. Culver. Senator Kennedy’s niece Caroline Kennedy made closing remarks in honor of her Uncle Teddy.
On Saturday, after a morning prayer service that included Senator Kennedy’s Congressional colleagues, the motorcade carrying Senator Kennedy’s casket departed from the Kennedy Library for the Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Roxbury. As the motorcade proceeded from Columbia Point, the Boston College High School football team stood at attention in uniform with their helmets held across their hearts.
“It was an honor for the Library to have been chosen by Senator Kennedy as the site for him to lay in repose and to allow the public, family, and friends to pay their last respects,” said Tom Putnam, Director of the Kennedy Presidential Library. “Without question it was the finest moment in this Library's history. We often think of ourselves as a beacon by the ocean that President Kennedy, Senator Kennedy, and their families love so dearly. Our light has never shown so brightly.”