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Edward M. Kennedy: A Lion is Laid to Rest
At eight p.m. under a setting August sun, Edward Kennedy joined his brothers John and Robert at rest in Arlington National Cemetery. In that hallowed place, the flame burns eternally, as it does in the hearts of the millions who loved him. Their hope now is that the great American senator, orator, icon, politician, and patriarch will find his reward with the angels, and that his legacy – his tireless work to make this mortal vale better for the least among us – will outshine and outlast his shortcomings and sins.
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On this day, the words that echoed in the minds of many who lined Pennsylvania Avenue and Memorial Bridge, or who gathered at the U.S. Capitol for a prayer and a glimpse at the hearse that carried his body to its resting place, were the ones uttered so many summers ago when Teddy Kennedy delivered the eulogy at Bobby's funeral. On that sad occasion, he recalled his brother "as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it."
Now Ted Kennedy's soul belongs to the ages, as was said of Lincoln; and his own words about Bobby apply to himself.
The long goodbye began with a lengthy mass at a Catholic Church in Boston, and continued as his widow and his sons paid their respects to a crowd of well-wishers gathered on the Capitol steps. Earlier in the day, his son Edward M. Kennedy Jr., made a point of thanking the aides who facilitated the senator's work. At the Capitol, his other son, Rhode Island congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, elaborated on this undervalued truth, telling a crowd that included Sen. Robert Byrd and many congressional staffers that Senator Kennedy had been well-aware that the long hours of "nitty-gritty legislating and policy-making" on the part of Capitol Hill aides made his success possible.
The long goodbye began with a lengthy mass at a Catholic Church in Boston, and continued as his widow and his sons paid their respects to a crowd of well-wishers gathered on the Capitol steps. Earlier in the day, his son Edward M. Kennedy Jr., made a point of thanking the aides who facilitated the senator's work. At the Capitol, his other son, Rhode Island congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, elaborated on this undervalued truth, telling a crowd that included Sen. Robert Byrd and many congressional staffers that Senator Kennedy had been well-aware that the long hours of "nitty-gritty legislating and policy-making" on the part of Capitol Hill aides made his success possible.
The motorcade then wound slowly through the city and across the Potomac River. At Arlington, the graveside service was officiated by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington. A small number of family members and dignitaries, including Vice President Joe Biden and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, sat still in the fading light. As a bell tolled eight times to signify the hour, Kennedy's daughter Kara read a passage of Scripture. Cardinal McCarrick followed with a prayer asking "that God may bring him to everlasting peace and life."
"They called him the lion of the Senate and indeed that's what he was," McCarrick said, adding that Kennedy's "roar and zeal for what he believed in" made a difference in the life of this country. McCarrick also said how touched he had been earlier in the day "by the wonderful part in that liturgy played by a younger generation of Kennedys," and, indeed, two of the eldest Kennedy grandchildren, Kiley and Grace, spoke at the gravesite even as the light grew too dim for them to see.
McCarrick also explained that while planning the graveside services with Victoria Kennedy, the two had agreed to share the letter Kennedy wrote Pope Benedict XVI recently – and a portion of the Holy Father's response. The fact that Kennedy had asked Obama to carry the letter had been reported, as had erroneous news accounts that the Vatican had never responded.
The senator's missive began as a poignant request that the pope pray for him.
"I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic, your Holiness, and though I have fallen short through human failings," Kennedy said in conclusion. "I've never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith. I continue to pray for God's blessings on you, and on our church and would be most thankful for your prayers for me."
Two weeks later, McCarrick said, a reply came from the Vatican, with the Roman pope sending his prayers and promise of spiritual support to the dying senator.
Soon, the bugler played taps, and the sun set as the Kennedy grandchildren told of their love for their grandfather. And another Kennedy woman, dressed in black, was escorted to a waiting limousine. This time, however, a Kennedy man had lived long enough to have grandchildren, so the sadness at his parting was mixed with gladness of all that he had seen and done and accomplished. This time, a Kennedy was not buried amid the tears of unfulfilled promise, but while celebrating a legacy, that if not complete, was truly substantial.
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Carl M. Cannon
Carl M. Cannon is the senior Washington correspondent for PoliticsDaily.com. Previously, Carl was the DC bureau chief for Reader's Digest... moreComments (63)
radjb4
10:47PM Aug 29th 2009
This was well written. The family deserves this beautiful eulogy that was written. To say that it is crap is heartless. You may not have liked the man but show some respect.
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(1)
(1) 
weezielv906
10:49PM Aug 29th 2009
Leave the guy alone----
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-2)
(-2) park457799
11:12PM Aug 29th 2009
radjb4
10:47PM Aug 29th 2009
This was well written. The family deserves this beautiful eulogy that was written. To say that it is crap is heartless. You may not have liked the man but show some respect.
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I have no respect for a man who allows a young woman to die of asphyxia! Waiting 9 hours to report it, going to bed, getting up and eating breakfast out prior to reporting. NO RESPECT for a murderer! Don't be a hypocrite!
10:47PM Aug 29th 2009
This was well written. The family deserves this beautiful eulogy that was written. To say that it is crap is heartless. You may not have liked the man but show some respect.
///////////////////////////////////////
I have no respect for a man who allows a young woman to die of asphyxia! Waiting 9 hours to report it, going to bed, getting up and eating breakfast out prior to reporting. NO RESPECT for a murderer! Don't be a hypocrite!
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(5)
(5) salome
1:10AM Aug 30th 2009
radjb4
10:47PM Aug 29th 2009
This was well written. The family deserves this beautiful eulogy that was written. To say that it is crap is heartless. You may not have liked the man but show some respect.
++++++++++++++++++++++
another rabid prOabortionist and person that showed absolutely no respect for human life right down to his chappaquiddick jokes.
10:47PM Aug 29th 2009
This was well written. The family deserves this beautiful eulogy that was written. To say that it is crap is heartless. You may not have liked the man but show some respect.
++++++++++++++++++++++
another rabid prOabortionist and person that showed absolutely no respect for human life right down to his chappaquiddick jokes.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (4)
(4) Wendell Welling
3:55AM Aug 30th 2009
It is highly possible that the nation just buried it's first traitor at Arllington National Cemetery. Why would I say such a thing? Because a recently released KGB document from the 1980's offers evidence that Ted Kennedy offered to undermine President Reagan's efforts to win the cold war. Kennedy was dead wrong on one of the greatest historical issues of our time, and he was willing to lend his support to the most brutal regime in modern times. Ted Kennedy apparently saw himself as somehow entitled to reshape the country even if that country never agreed to make him it's President. I see Mr. Kennedy as a man with a flawed vision of his country and for his country. He felt he could break the law in order to achieve his goals. Next time you hear how affable he was, or how he helped little old ladies get across the street, remember that he offered to undermine his own President, and played a major role in setting this nation on a course of unsustainable deficits. I like an Irish joke now and again myself, but offering to help the Soviets during the 80's? That is no laughing matter.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (1)
(1) Randy
12:33PM Aug 30th 2009
Produce the document immediately or a link to same! I demand to see it. I suspect it is about as real as the Kenyan Birth Certificate of the President. But I give you the benefit of the doubt. Produce the document to which you refer! I shall check back for your reply.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-1)
(-1) momprayn
1:01PM Aug 30th 2009
Info & site:
In May 1983, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) directed friend and fellow Senator John Tunney to meet with the Soviet KGB with a tantalizing message. Tunney was to tell the KGB to alert Soviet Communist Party General Secretary Yuri Andropov that Kennedy believed then President Ronald Reagan was a threat, possibly a military one, to the Soviet Union. Because of his worry over Reagan’s intentions, he offered to Andropov, through Tunney, to coordinate American media with the aim of undermining President Reagan with the electorate. In short, an American Senator collaborated with our arch foe in the Cold War to undermine a sitting President.
Site: http://www.bloggernews.net/11096
In May 1983, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) directed friend and fellow Senator John Tunney to meet with the Soviet KGB with a tantalizing message. Tunney was to tell the KGB to alert Soviet Communist Party General Secretary Yuri Andropov that Kennedy believed then President Ronald Reagan was a threat, possibly a military one, to the Soviet Union. Because of his worry over Reagan’s intentions, he offered to Andropov, through Tunney, to coordinate American media with the aim of undermining President Reagan with the electorate. In short, an American Senator collaborated with our arch foe in the Cold War to undermine a sitting President.
Site: http://www.bloggernews.net/11096
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(0)
(0) cjjanis001
3:07PM Aug 30th 2009
Nice bit of fiction there guys. But here's something that was real and we all know its true, if you watched the Iran/Contra hearings you got all the proof you wanted. Reagan and Bush Sr agreed to give Iran rockets and other arms if they would hold our people until after the election. That's real treason and has been more then investigated and proved to be true.
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(2)
(2) Randy
5:49PM Aug 30th 2009
Momprayn, I thank you for what I suspect was your very best effort; however, I asked for a document. You provided a link to a right of center blog that quotes a section from a book about Ronald Reagan winning the cold war singlehandedly, written by a unknown political science professor at an unheard of college, referencing a supposed Soviet KGB memo from 25+ years ago by a supposed KGB officer that purports that Senator Tunney offered him Senator Kennedy's services to assist in arranging tv interviews for the Soviet Leader, Yuri Anpropov, who subsequently died and was replaced by Mikhail Gorbachev and thus, nothing ever came of the so called plan. Now really, do you believe this should be the information that brands the late Senator Kennedy a traitor to his contry? I certainly hope not.
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(3)
(3) Gina
8:07PM Aug 30th 2009
Wendell, you are pathetic! Please enlighten us with something about the CONTENT of this alleged "KGB document"--or do we have to wait until the wack-jobs, who will spread your garbage all over the Internet, BEG you for it? I thought the "birther" garbage was the all-time low you Republican hacks could hit! Apparently, you aren't any farther than just over the rim of the pit... Hope something nice is waiting for you when you hit the bottom!! Pitchfork and horns, anyone???
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-1)
(-1) gizmo
9:37AM Aug 30th 2009
may the senator rest in peace, but i still do not want a public option in the healthcare bill. i have heard experts say if they put it in the gov't will in up taking over the whole healthcare system within 5 years and i do not want the gov't in control of my healthcare. my mother is on medicare and i have listen to her fuss for years about how crappy medicare is. she can't even get her medicines that she needs and she has to wait for the gov't to approve everything that she needs and some stuff they will not even approve.
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(1) cjjanis001
11:30AM Aug 30th 2009
Yep believe all the scare and fear they throw at you! Believe that a corpration that cares only for profits for their CEOs and share holders would treat you better then politicans that you get to elected and toss out of office. Your mothers thinks medicare is bad wait till the insurance companies get a hold of her. And remember this these same republicans pushed to have socail security privatize under Bush, think of all those lederly folks who would of lost every dime they owned with the market crash last year. Yep they have lots of good ideas along as you are very rich and a CEO.
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(0) LPD INC
7:56AM Aug 30th 2009
Ted Kennedy was the only democrat who was not afraid to be labelled as anything and still focused on accomplishing the goals for the sake of humanity. Obama on the other hand has taken the torch and is more interested in pacifying the right than doing what is best for the country.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-3)
(-3) cjjanis001
11:17AM Aug 30th 2009
Don't be fooled, Obama will do as he wants. The right will not be able to say that Obama didn't try to reach across. Obama is much smarter then many give him credit for. He has and will continue to get what bills he wants passed with or without GOP support. Watch the health care debate, if they pass a bill without a government option then I will agree with you. But I bet that won't happen, I bet they will pass the bill with the government option and not get 1 GOP vote. Not that they ever had a chance at getting any of their votes, but Obama will be able to say he tried.
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(0) Zoe
7:57AM Aug 30th 2009
why did you read it then
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(3) arrodinfan
8:19AM Aug 30th 2009
park why read it then
RATE THIS COMMENT: (2)
(2) arrodinfan
8:27AM Aug 30th 2009
gizmo i grant you medicare isnt perfect, but it beats no insurance allto hell.....if you are so worried about her meds pay for a few.....medicare has options that make partD virtually free and the individual state medicade programs will pay medicare premiums if she is cash strapped
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(3) sequin22
8:43AM Aug 30th 2009
Lion laid to rest? I think the author really means "Liar laid to rest." This evil, disgusting man could not even run his own home honorably and properly- how in the world do the fools in MA allow him to make decisions for them? I would not trust this twisted, narcissistic, dead, fool with my goldfish.
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(0) cptkelly
8:55AM Aug 30th 2009
I'm with sequin22 on this one. "Uncle Ted" was pretty much a thug, a crook, an evil man. He was also a drunk. He has never been the great american he is now portrayed to be. His actions at Chappaquiddick were plainly criminal, but his family pull, kept him out of court and jail. The woman who drowned was pregnant, and the kennedy family whisked her body off really quick, so that a paternity test could not be performed on the dead fetus. Does anyone out there NOT think this stinks to high heaven?
I am sorry for his family, but calling a spade, a spade is proper and correct.
I am sorry for his family, but calling a spade, a spade is proper and correct.
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(1) trucker45
8:56AM Aug 30th 2009
I ALWAYS THOUGHT ARLINGTON CEMETARY WAS FOR THE MEN AND NOW WOMEN WHO DIED SERVEING THIS COUNTRY??????????? NOT FOR LIYING MURDERERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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