Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/solemn-ceremonies-mark-passing-of-a-president Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript President Bush joined thousands of others who paid their final respects to former President Gerald Ford, whose body laid in state in the Capitol rotunda. The NewsHour reports on the ceremonies and remembrances, including Tuesday's state funeral in Washington, D.C. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. RAY SUAREZ: Now, remembering former President Gerald Ford. Kwame Holman takes us through the weekend's tributes. KWAME HOLMAN: Some of President Ford's former staff members stood in darkness on the tarmac of Andrews Air Force Base on Saturday evening to greet his coffin and escort it to Washington.A 21-gun salute sounded in honor of President Ford, the start of four days of ceremony in memory of the country's 38th president.Mr. Ford's wife of 58 years, Betty, escorted her husband's hearse in a long motorcade to the Capitol building, traveling through Alexandria, Virginia, where President Ford lived during many of his 25 years of service in the House of Representatives. Hundreds braved chilly temperatures to watch the procession.Entering Washington via Memorial Bridge, the caravan paused before the World War II memorial. A boatswain mate came forward to render "Piping Ashore," a piercing whistle used for centuries to welcome officers aboard a ship, and now to honor naval service. The president served as a navigator and gunnery officer in the Pacific during World War II. About 7: 00 p.m., the motorcade arrived at the east front of the Capitol building. Mrs. Ford watched as pallbearers carried the flag-draped casket slowly up to the Capitol entrance.Once inside, the president's remains were placed on the same bier used for President Lincoln's funeral 141 years ago and for President Reagan's two-and-a-half years ago. President Ford's family, former congressional colleagues, staff members and dignitaries attended a private service in honor of Mr. Ford.