thedrifter
12-28-06, 06:26 PM
December 28. 2006 6:57PM
Military rehearses for precision in Ford funeral ceremonies
By JEFF WILSON
Associated Press Writer
Soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and florists prepared Thursday for the first memorial ceremonies honoring former President Gerald R. Ford.
A military honor guard and band rehearsed crisp rituals at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, where Ford's family will have a private prayer service Friday before a public visitation lasting into Saturday.
The nation's 38th chief executive, who died Tuesday at age 93, and his wife, Betty, had worshipped at St. Margaret's since they moved from Washington, D.C., to the California desert in 1977.
Church staff in a golf cart tooled around the grounds of the church, a soaring modern structure surrounded by low ranch-style administrative buildings. An oil portrait of Ford dropped off by a local artist had been placed in the church foyer, where it seemed to gaze over the rehearsals.
Florists brought in with an organizing team from Washington worked in a kitchen next door arranging piles of white stargazer lilies, calla lilies and orchids flown in from Houston. A local florist who works with the church pulled up and unloaded arrangements of red and white roses accented with blue flowers.
About 100 representatives from all branches of the military were present to take part in the honor guard, said Betsy Judge, a retired Marine Corps officer acting as spokeswoman for the contingent.
More service members were at the Palm Springs airport rehearsing a departure ceremony, Judge said. On Saturday, Ford's body will be flown to Washington for ceremonies before continuing to Grand Rapids, Mich., to be entombed at his presidential museum next week.
Uniformed pallbearers practiced walking up and down the short flight of steps in front of the church, miming carrying a casket until a black Cadillac hearse pulled up with an empty flag-draped casket that they used as a stand-in. The procedure was repeated over and over.
"They will rehearse for precision - the precision that is deserved for a commander-in-chief," said Marine spokeswoman Lt. Christy Kercheval. "What people will see is your military paying respects to a commander-in-chief."
A soldier and a sailor holding 10-foot ebony staffs that will fly the American flag and the presidential seal carefully measured the height of the church's portico to make sure they could clear the ceiling.
In a recreation room next door to the main church building, a uniformed brass band from the Twentynine Palms Marine base rehearsed "Hail to the Chief."
The ceremony was specifically crafted to reflect Ford's naval service, said Barbara Owens, a spokeswoman for military organizers. A sailor was deputized to carry the presidential seal.
Some of the service members who flew in from Washington participated in former President Reagan's 2004 funeral, Owens said.
"Precision is key here," Owens said as the pallbearers walked in formation outside the church.
"These men have not walked up these steps before, and they have to think of everything," Owens said. "It's windy - what do they do if their hats fly off? What's the angle of the sun going to be? Will the sun be in their eyes?"
Owens said most of the uniform caps had chin straps that would keep them on even in gusts. Desert winds blew dust and palm fronds through the streets around the church Thursday.
Church officials scrambled to schedule ushers for the public repose. They planned to have eight ushers on duty at all times, on three- or four-hour shifts, said Rev. Daniel Rondeau, associate rector.
A local Boy Scout troop will provide 30 scouts ranging in age from 13 to 18 to help corral an expected 6,000 visitors to the church. Ford, an Eagle Scout, was scout master emeritus of the troop.
"They'll get a community service badge, but for the kids it's a chance to be part of history," said troop leader Gary W. Johnson, who is also a member of St. Margaret's. "Kids are coming back from their vacations to do this."
Members of the public will be shuttled to the church on buses from the Indian Wells Tennis Garden a few miles away. No cameras, cell phones or personal items will be allowed on the buses. Mourners will be allowed in until about 8 a.m. Saturday.
The casket will then be taken by motorcade 10 miles to the airport. President Bush sent a Boeing 747 from the presidential fleet to carry the casket and the Ford family to Washington.
During a break in rehearsals, a dozen area residents rushed over to the hearse to snap photos.
"It's history," said Stacey Cannon, 43, of La Quinta. "I'm a fan of the Fords. This was real sad. I figure I will never see something like this again in my lifetime."
Associated Press Writer Allison Hoffman contributed to this report.
Ellie
Military rehearses for precision in Ford funeral ceremonies
By JEFF WILSON
Associated Press Writer
Soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and florists prepared Thursday for the first memorial ceremonies honoring former President Gerald R. Ford.
A military honor guard and band rehearsed crisp rituals at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, where Ford's family will have a private prayer service Friday before a public visitation lasting into Saturday.
The nation's 38th chief executive, who died Tuesday at age 93, and his wife, Betty, had worshipped at St. Margaret's since they moved from Washington, D.C., to the California desert in 1977.
Church staff in a golf cart tooled around the grounds of the church, a soaring modern structure surrounded by low ranch-style administrative buildings. An oil portrait of Ford dropped off by a local artist had been placed in the church foyer, where it seemed to gaze over the rehearsals.
Florists brought in with an organizing team from Washington worked in a kitchen next door arranging piles of white stargazer lilies, calla lilies and orchids flown in from Houston. A local florist who works with the church pulled up and unloaded arrangements of red and white roses accented with blue flowers.
About 100 representatives from all branches of the military were present to take part in the honor guard, said Betsy Judge, a retired Marine Corps officer acting as spokeswoman for the contingent.
More service members were at the Palm Springs airport rehearsing a departure ceremony, Judge said. On Saturday, Ford's body will be flown to Washington for ceremonies before continuing to Grand Rapids, Mich., to be entombed at his presidential museum next week.
Uniformed pallbearers practiced walking up and down the short flight of steps in front of the church, miming carrying a casket until a black Cadillac hearse pulled up with an empty flag-draped casket that they used as a stand-in. The procedure was repeated over and over.
"They will rehearse for precision - the precision that is deserved for a commander-in-chief," said Marine spokeswoman Lt. Christy Kercheval. "What people will see is your military paying respects to a commander-in-chief."
A soldier and a sailor holding 10-foot ebony staffs that will fly the American flag and the presidential seal carefully measured the height of the church's portico to make sure they could clear the ceiling.
In a recreation room next door to the main church building, a uniformed brass band from the Twentynine Palms Marine base rehearsed "Hail to the Chief."
The ceremony was specifically crafted to reflect Ford's naval service, said Barbara Owens, a spokeswoman for military organizers. A sailor was deputized to carry the presidential seal.
Some of the service members who flew in from Washington participated in former President Reagan's 2004 funeral, Owens said.
"Precision is key here," Owens said as the pallbearers walked in formation outside the church.
"These men have not walked up these steps before, and they have to think of everything," Owens said. "It's windy - what do they do if their hats fly off? What's the angle of the sun going to be? Will the sun be in their eyes?"
Owens said most of the uniform caps had chin straps that would keep them on even in gusts. Desert winds blew dust and palm fronds through the streets around the church Thursday.
Church officials scrambled to schedule ushers for the public repose. They planned to have eight ushers on duty at all times, on three- or four-hour shifts, said Rev. Daniel Rondeau, associate rector.
A local Boy Scout troop will provide 30 scouts ranging in age from 13 to 18 to help corral an expected 6,000 visitors to the church. Ford, an Eagle Scout, was scout master emeritus of the troop.
"They'll get a community service badge, but for the kids it's a chance to be part of history," said troop leader Gary W. Johnson, who is also a member of St. Margaret's. "Kids are coming back from their vacations to do this."
Members of the public will be shuttled to the church on buses from the Indian Wells Tennis Garden a few miles away. No cameras, cell phones or personal items will be allowed on the buses. Mourners will be allowed in until about 8 a.m. Saturday.
The casket will then be taken by motorcade 10 miles to the airport. President Bush sent a Boeing 747 from the presidential fleet to carry the casket and the Ford family to Washington.
During a break in rehearsals, a dozen area residents rushed over to the hearse to snap photos.
"It's history," said Stacey Cannon, 43, of La Quinta. "I'm a fan of the Fords. This was real sad. I figure I will never see something like this again in my lifetime."
Associated Press Writer Allison Hoffman contributed to this report.
Ellie