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Caroline Raclin, Kara Kennedy: The Kennedy Family Remember Ted
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by Amy Judd | August 29, 2009 at 09:46 am
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Ted Kennedy's funeral at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Boston has now ended and the body of Edward Kennedy is going to his final resting place in Arlington Virginia this evening.
The NY Times has an excellent slideshow of the funeral
The people who spoke at his funeral remembered not only the senator he was, but the family man and the father who made such a difference in his children's lives.
Caroline Raclin, Ted Kennedy's stepdaughter gave a reading from the New Testament 'Letter of Paul to the Romans' and Kara Kennedy gave the first reading, which was a psalm from The Book of Wisdom.
The senator’s stepchildren and his daughter begin with liturgical readings. Kara Kennedy reads: “Justice shall flourish in his time in fullness and peace forever,” as the refrain for one of the readings.
Vicki Kennedy, Ted Kennedy's widow, along with his sisters Jeanne and Ethel Kennedy replaced the American flag on the casket with a white cloth.
In attendance were, President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, former President George Bush and Laura Bush along with the rest of the Kennedy Family.
Reverend Mark Hession, who conducted the funeral said of this day:
“We’re reminded that the most public personalities also live a most personal existence.”
Ted Kennedy Jr spoke about his dad and said the most important thing he had taught him was 'how to like Republicans'.
He also gave a very moving speech about how his dad helped him after he lost his leg to cancer, by teaching him that he could do anything he wanted to do.
"The work goes on, the cause endures...the dream will never die," Ted said in quoting his father, and added that he missed him already
Patrick Kennedy spoke after his brother and also spoke about how his dad had helped him overcome his asthma when he was young and that he taught him never to give up on what he wanted in life.
Yo-Yo Ma played Bach on his cello after Ted Kennedy's children spoke, and at times he seemed close to tears.
Ave Maria was sung by Susan Graham and tv pictures showed Kara Kennedy crying, and Vicki Kennedy almost in tears.
President Obama gave a moving eulogy to Ted Kennedy, saying his lingering image was that of a man on a boat sailing into the wind.
President Obama described him as:
the baby of the family who became its patriarch; the restless dreamer who became its rock. He was the sunny, joyful child, who bore the brunt of his brothers' teasing, but learned quickly how to brush it off
He spoke about the pain that Ted Kennedy endured during his life:
He lost two siblings by the age of sixteen. He saw two more taken violently from the country that loved them. He said goodbye to his beloved sister, Eunice, in the final days of his own life. He narrowly survived a plane crash, watched two children struggle with cancer, buried three nephews, and experienced personal failings and setbacks in the most public way possible.
For the full text of President Obama's speech to Ted Kennedy.
The family will gather on the steps of the Senate Chamber at the Capitol Building where Ted Kennedy's motorcade will pass mid-afternoon in tribute to his 47 years in Congress.
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A. Tranat 09:58 on August 29th, 2009
It was a moving service to remember and honor Senator Kennedy, the person and a public figure.
Last night's tributes to celebrate the life of Senator Kennedy held at the John Kennedy's Library were quite funny and touching.