Mourners Remember Lady Bird Johnson: Funeral Saturday will be televised

NYT/AP: Mourners Remember Lady Bird Johnson
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 13, 2007

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Three days of proceedings marking the death of Lady Bird Johnson will incorporate some of the great loves of her long life: the memory of her husband, the couple's Hill Country Ranch, and Texas wildflowers.

The first formal ceremony for the widow of President Lyndon Baines Johnson was Friday at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Family and friends planned to attend a private Eucharist in a room at the center filled with arrangements of her favorite flower, the lavender-hued bluebell.

Mourners trickled into the wildflower center Thursday among the blooms Johnson so adored to sign a book of condolences....

Johnson was an environmentalist devoted to preserving wildflowers and native plants. She founded the center in 1982 on her 70th birthday. She last visited the center in May for its annual fundraising gala....

Arrangements at other ceremonies throughout the weekend will be loaded with the native Texas wildflowers she loved.

Among her own requests, Johnson asked to be buried next to her husband at the couple's Central Texas ranch. She also wanted to follow the same path he did 34 years ago to the LBJ Library and Museum to lie in repose in the same spot where he laid in state in 1973.

Both requests will be carried out this weekend.

Members of the public can visit her casket at the LBJ Library and Museum at the University of Texas, where she will lie in repose from 1:15 p.m. Friday until 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

An invitation-only funeral Saturday will be televised....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Johnson-Ceremonies.html

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Some former presidents and other US dignitaries are making plans to visit Austin for Lady Bird Johnson's funeral on Saturday.

The former first lady died Wednesday at her home in Austin. Mrs. Johnson was 94.

Here is a list of officials who have confirmed that they plan to attend the service:

First Lady Laura Bush

Former first lady Barbara Bush

Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn Carter

Susan Ford Bales, daughter of late former President Gerald Ford

Caroline Kennedy, daughter of slain President John F. Kennedy

US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas


http://www.5newsonline.com/Global/story.asp?S=6784446

This makes it sound like this is the official funeral.

I think First Families have a great appreciation for the role of the first couples and I am fine with it.

Odd that George the 1st is not attending.. I wonder if there is bad blod between the Texas Clans

I guess W is not going because Daddy will not be there and the visual with him sitting there with two Dems would not be a pic Rove wants'


Does not need to be nationally televised though.