With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

Meeting of presidents at Edward Kennedy funeral

Presidents and members of America’s most famous family paid final tribute Saturday to Edward M Kennedy, mourning the loss of a senator who was a political force for over 47 years in Congress and of the man who carried the Kennedy clan through tragedy and triumph.

President Barack Obama was delivering the eulogy to cap a two-hour Roman Catholic funeral Mass for Kennedy. The service drew to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica three of the four living former presidents, dozens of Kennedy relatives, pews full of current and former members of Congress and hundreds of others affected by the senator in ways large and small. Kennedy died late Tuesday night at age 77, after battling brain cancer for more than a year.

A military honor guard carried Kennedy’s casket up the church steps. “We welcome the body of our friend,” said a priest.

Read entire article at Times Online (UK)