In the United States , state funerals are the official funerary rites conducted by the federal government in the nation's capital, Washington, D. However, the overall planning as well as the decision to hold a state funeral, is largely determined by the family of the honoree, upon invitation by the government. The first general mourning was proclaimed in the United States in , upon the death of Benjamin Franklin , and in , following the death of George Washington.
It is estimated that 20, mourners gathered for Franklin's funeral. The United States Congress convened in New York City , which at the time served as the nation's capital, and passed a concurrent resolution observing an official period of mourning for one month. Mock funerals were held all over the United States. An elaborate mock funeral was held in Philadelphia on December At dawn, sixteen cannons were fired and volleys were shot on a half-hour basis.
An empty casket was carried in a procession which consisted of two marines wearing black scarves escorting a riderless horse festooned with black and white feathers, and a bald eagle depicted on the horse's breast. In Britain, the Royal Navy was ordered to lower flags at half-mast on its entire fleet. Washington's actual funeral was a simple ceremony, organized by the local Masonic lodge and held on December In his will, Washington stated, "[I]t is my express desire that my Corpse may be Interred in a private manner, without parade, or funeral Oration.
Upon arrival at a red brick tomb on a hillside in the environs of Mount Vernon, the casket was placed on a wood bier for grieving mourners to gather around for a final viewing and clergy to conduct funeral rites. Elisha Dick, conducted the traditional Masonic funeral rites. Two former presidents, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams , died within hours of each other on July 4, , the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Jefferson's funeral, held in Charlottesville, Virginia , at p. No invitations were sent out for the religious service officiated by Reverend Frederick Hatch at the Episcopal Church in Charlottesville. Only friends and family members gathered at his gravesite on the grounds of Monticello. It is likely that Jefferson's casket was wooden, built by Monticello slave John Hemings. Pastor Peter Whitney officiated the service.
