♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA ♪ ♪ LAND THAT I LOVE ♪ ♪ STAND BESIDE HER ♪ ♪ AND GUIDE HER.

♪ THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THE LIGHT FROM ABOVE.

♪ FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE PRAIRIES TO THE OCEANS WHITE WITH FOAM ♪ ♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA ♪ ♪ MY HOME SWEET HOME ♪ ♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA ♪ ♪ MY HOME SWEET HOME ♪ ♪ FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE PRAIRIES TO THE OCEANS WHITE WITH FOAM ♪ ♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA ♪ MY HOME SWEET HOME ♪ ♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA ♪ ♪ MY HOME SWEET HOME ♪ ♪ MY HOME EAT HOME ♪ SWEET HOME ♪ >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

AS A REPRESENTATIVE MY FAMILY, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

WE ALSO WANT TO THANK THE GOVERNOR AND HIS STAFF FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THIS MEMORIAL SERVICE HERE.

IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CAPITOL WHERE OUR FATHER SERVED IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY HERE, AND I KNOW -- SORRY -- I KNOW THAT DAD WOULD BE BEAMING WITH PRIDE TODAY TO SEE HIS GRANDKIDS AND GREAT-GRANDKIDS PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEMORIAL SERVICE, AND HE'D BE HUMBLED THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU CAME OUT.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FORE BEING THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> A READING FROM JOHN 14, VERSES 1 THROUGH 6.

LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED; BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME.

IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY ROOMS; IF IT WERE NOT SO, WOULD I HAVE TOLD YOU THAT I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU?

AND WHEN I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN AND WILL TAKE YOU TO THAT WHERE I AM YOU MAY BE ALSO AND YOU KNOW THE WAY WHERE I AM THOMAS SAID TO HIM, "LORD, WE D NOT KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING.

HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY?"

JESUS SAID TO HIM, "I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE; NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME."

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

SO I'M GOING TO REALLY STRUGGLE TODAY.

I'LL HAVE TO ADMIT RIGHT UP FRONT THAT I'M A CRYER.

I CRY AT HAPPY THINGS SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW I'M FEELING TODAY.

OUR DAD WAS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE SPEAKER AND STORYTELLER, AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME I THINK THAT TRAIT SKIPPED A GENERATION, SO I HOPE YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME AS I GO THROUGH MY NOTES TODAY.

I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT MY DAD'S PUBLIC LIFE OTHER THAN TO NOTE IT WOULD HAVE NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT WHEN MY DAD PASSED, THE ARTICLES AND COMMENTARY ABOUT HIM WOULD HAVE FOCUSED SO MUCH ON HIS BIPARTISANSHIP, HIS FRIENDSHIPS WITH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, HIS INDEPENDENT THINKING, HIS REVERENCE FOR OUR DEMOCRACY, HIS HUMOR AND HIS KINDNESS, NOT BECAUSE THAT'S WHO HE WAS BUT BECAUSE IT'S SO RARE THESE DAYS THAT IT WOULD BE NEWSWORTHY.

WHAT WONDERFUL THINGS, THOUGH, TO HAVE BEEN KNOWN FOR, BIPARTISANSHIP, INDEPENDENCE, FRIENDSHIPS, HUMOR, AND KINDNESS KINDNESS.

THESE QUALITIES SHOULDN'T BE SO RARE.

THEY'RE ATTRIBUTES THAT WE SHOULD ALL STRIVE FOR AND EXEMPLIFY EVERY DAY.

AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT BEING HERE, IT STRUCK ME THAT YOU OFTEN LEARN THINGS AT THESE SERVICES THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW, AND I'M SURE THERE WILL BE SOME THINGS THAT YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT OUR DAD TODAY, BUT TWO THINGS THAT PROBABLY WON'T SURPRISE YOU WERE HIS FAVORITE TELEVISION NETWORK AND HIS FAVORITE ACTOR.

[LAUGHTER] OUR PARENTS SUPPORTED EVERYTHING JOSH, TARA AND I DID, AND THUS DAD BECAME A STAUNCH AND ACTIVE ADVOCATE FOR KET AND ITS EDUCATIONAL MISSION.

HE REALLY RESPECTED THE WORK OF RENEE SHAW AND BILL GOODMAN.

HE NEVER MISSED THE NEWSHOUR AND ENJOYED DOC MARTIN AND THE CLASSIC MOVIES ON KET.

IN SPEAKING OF MOVIES, DAD LOVED MOVIES, BUT HE LOVED MOVIE POPCORN EVEN MORE.

[LAUGHTER] HE'D ALWAYS GET THE LARGEST SIZE AND THEN A REFILL, ALL BEFORE THE THE MOVIE EVEN STARTED.

[LAUGHTER] YOU COULD FIND THE TWO OF US AT THE KENTUCKY THEATER ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND.

OFTEN, AS WE SAT WATCHING IN THE DARK THEATER, DAD WOULD LEAN OVER AND COMMENT ON THE MALE LEADING ACTOR.

AND IT PRETTY MUCH DIDN'T MATTER WHAT THE ROLE WAS.

HE'D SAY IN A LOUD WHISPER, "JOSH WOULD HAVE PLAYED THAT ROLE SO MUCH BETTER."

[LAUGHTER] EMBARRASSED BY HIS COMMENT AND THAT HE WAS TALKING DURING THE MOVIE, I LEARNED IT WAS BEST TO JUST AGREE WITH A QUICK "I KNOW."

MOM AND DAD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR US AND SUPPORTED OUR INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES.

FOR INSTANCE, OUR SISTER TARA, SHE IS THE ACCOMPLISHED EQUESTRIAN.

THEY GOT US A HORSE WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT NINE YEARS OLD AND FOR TARA IT BEGAN HER LIFELONG PASSION FOR HORSES.

DAD APPRECIATED HER SKILL AND DEVOTION AND HER ENCYCLOPEDIC KNOWLEDGE OF RACING AND THOROUGHBRED PEDIGREES.

SHE WAS DEFINITELY THE ONE HE CONSULTED ON DERBY DAY.

AND MOM AND DAD WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR JOSH AT HIS SCHOOL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES, FROM MONTESSORI, THAYER AND AUBURN TO ACTOR THEATRE IN LOUISVILLE AND ON TO NEW YORK AND L.A. DAD WAS ALWAYS SO GENEROUS AND THOUGHTFUL.

DURING A VISIT OUT TO SEE JOSH FOR THE PREMIERE OF "THE PERFECT STORM" WE WENT TO DINNER, AND JOSH BROUGHT ALONG TWO OF HIS FELLOW STRUGGLING ACTOR FRIENDS.

SENSITIVE TONER EARLY FLEDGLING CAREERS, DAD THOUGHTFULLY PICKED UP THE CHECK FOR THE TABLE.

IT'S FUNNY NOW TO LOOK BACK ON THE PHOTOS TAKEN THAT EVENING BECAUSE THE STRUGGLING ACTORS WITH US WERE TATE TAYLOR WHO WENT ON TO DIRECT "THE HELP" AND OCTAVIA EXPERIENCE WHO WENT ON TO WIN AN ACADEMY ROLE FOR HER ROLE THE IN MOVIE.

FROM JOSH'S YELLOWS ACTING DAYS DAD WOULD FREQUENTLY SUGGEST TO JOSH THAT HE DO A WESTERN.

EVERY TIME HE BROUGHT IT UP, JOSH WOULD PATIENTLY EXPLAIN AGAIN THAT THERE WERE JUST VERY FEW WESTERNS BEING DONE TODAY, AND HE COULDN'T JUST DECIDE TO BE IN ONE ANYWAY.

BUT DAD STILL MENTIONED IT FROM TIME TO TIME, INSISTING THAT JOSH DO A WESTERN.

IT KIND OF BECAME A FAMILY JOKE BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF PROJECT JOSH WAS DOING, COMEDY OR SOME SORT OF ESPIONAGE, DAD WOULD COMMENT THAT HE STILL HADN'T DONE A WESTERN.

EARLIER THIS YEAR JOSH FINALLY GOT TO TELL HIM THAT HE WAS DOING A WESTERN, AND DAD WAS SO HAPPY.

HE LOVED SEEING THE PHOTOS JOSH SENT HIM, UP SITTING ON A HORSE, WEARING HIS COWBOY HAT ON THE DUSTY SET WITH WOODEN STOREFRONTS AND WAGONS.

IT WAS ALL JUST LIKE DAD HAD IMAGINED IT WOULD BE.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS THE MOVIE THAT'S TRAGICALLY BEEN THE IN NEWS, BUT I'M SO GLAD THAT DAD WAS ABLE TO KNOW THAT FINALLY JOSH WAS IN A WESTERN.

IN 1958 WHILE HE WAS -- WHILE HE WAS VISITING LEXINGTON ON BUSINESS, DAD WAS IN A LIFE-THREATENING CAR WRECK HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER.

TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW BADLY HE WAS HURT, IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM A DOCTOR STOOD OVER HIS GURNEY AND, LOOKING DOWN AT DAD, ASKED IF HE'D ALWAYS BEEN DEFORMED.

HIS RECOVERY WOULD TAKE MONTHS, SO MOM MOVED US TO LEXINGTON, WHICH, OF COURSE, BECAME OUR HOME.

AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT DAD AND WHAT TO SAY TO YOU TODAY, IT REALLY HIT ME HOW THERE REALLY WASN'T TOO MUCH ABOUT HIS LIFE OR MY MOM'S THAT WAS ORDINARY.

NOT EVEN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE GREW UP ON PARKER'S MILL IN LEXINGTON, A QUIET ROAD THAT RAN THE EDGE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD IN PASTORAL FARMLAND.

A MEMBER OF THE FAMED SINGING GROUP THE HILLTOPPERS LIVED A FEW DOORS DOWN.

ACROSS THE STREET WAS THE FAMILY WHOSE HISTORIC FARM WOULD BECOME THE KENTUCKY HORSE PARK.

NEXT DOOR A DENTIST WHO EVENTUALLY BECAME VICE MAYOR.

AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF US LIVED COLONEL SANDER'S DAUGHTER, AND WE WOULD OCCASIONALLY ACTUALLY SEE THE CURRENTLY IN HIS WHITE SUIT STANDING BY HIS WHITE CADILLAC IN HER DRIVEWAY.

I CAN REMEMBER WAVING TO HIM AS A RODE MY BIKE DOWN THE SIDEWALK.

THERE WAS A SMALL FARM DOWN THE ROAD THAT BOARDED HORSES, AND SEVERAL KIDS INCLUDING TARA HAD HORSES THERE.

IT WASN'T UNUSUAL TO SEE HORSES GRAZING IN PEOPLE'S FRONT YARDS OR FRIENDS RIDING HORSEBACK UP TO GARDEN SIDE SHOPPING CENTER.

WHENEVER ANY OF THIS IS MENTIONED TO FRIENDS NOW, THEY'RE ALWAYS SURPRISED, KIND OF IN DISBELIEF, BUT AS KIDS GROWING UP, THAT WAS JUST OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

BACK IN THE DAY HOME MOVIES HAD NO SOUND, SO DAD BEGAN A LONG TRADITION OF INTERVIEWING US SEVERAL TIMES EACH YEAR USING HIS LARGE REAL-TO-REEL CAPE RECORDER.

WITH SOFT -- TAPE-RECORDER.

WITH SOFT MUSIC PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND, HE'D GIVE THE DATE AND MENTION SOME CURRENT EVENTS BEFORE LAUNCHING INTO HIS QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR SCHOOL AND FRIENDS AND WHATNOT.

WHEN I HEAR THE TAPES NOW, I'M STRUCK BY HOW PROFESSIONALLY PRODUCED THEY WERE AND HOW, NO MATTER WHAT RIDICULOUS ANSWER WE MIGHT HAVE GIVEN IN OUR HIGH-PITCHED VOICES, OR HOW OFF-KEY OUR SINGING OR OTHER PERFORMANCE MIGHT HAVE BEEN, HE CONTINUED ON, STAYING IN HIS VERY SERIOUS REPORTER INTERVIEW MODE, ASKING PRESSING QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR MUNDANE ACTIVITIES AS THOUGH WE WERE THE MOST EXCITING PEOPLE HE KNEW.

WE LITERALLY OF OUR CHILDHOODS AND THOSE DECADES DOCUMENTED IN THOSE INTERVIEWS.

DAD WAS A VERY TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHER AND TOOK HIS CAMERA EQUIPMENT EVERYWHERE.

HE NEVER PASSED UP AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE OUR PHOTO, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE FREQUENTLY IMPATIENT AND ANNOYED AT HAVING TO STOP TO POSE OR IN JUST HEARING HIS CAMERA CLICKING IN THE BACKGROUND, REALIZING HE WAS TAKING OUR PHOTOS WHEN WE WEREN'T LOOKING.

SENSING OUR IMPATIENCE, -- SENSING OUR IMPATIENCE, HE WOULD AMS SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T GO BACK AND GET THESE MOMENTS.

THESE ARE MEMORIES YOU'LL APPRECIATE ONE DAY.

AND HE WAS SO RIGHT.

AND WE'RE SO GLAD HE IGNORED OUR PROTESTS.

HIS COMPASSION WAS BOUNDLESS.

ONE COLD WINTER DAY HE PICKED UP A FAMILY WITH YOUNG CHILDREN HE SAW HITCHHIKE ON VERSAILLES ROAD.

HE ENDED UP TAKING THEM TO LUNCH TO DAO HARRIS TO GET VOTES, THEN TO OUR HOUSE TO GIVE THEM ONE OF OUR SUITCASES, AND FINALLY TO THE BUS STATION WHERE HE PURCHASED TICKETS SO THEY COULD GET TO THEIR DESTINATION.

HE HAD SUCH A BIG HEART, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT, FOR WHATEVER REASON, MIGHT HAVE SEEMED MARGINALIZED.

HE MADE A POINT OF INCLUDING THEM IN CONVERSATIONS AND EVEN IN SOME OF HIS ANTICS, INCLUDING A FRIENDSHIP WITH AN ELEVATOR ATTENDANT IN THE CAPITOL THAT LED TO ROUTINE WAGERING ON THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS.

HE SAW THE PERSON AND NOT THE DISABILITY AND OFFERED A GENUINE FRIENDSHIP.

DAD PLAYED BASKETBALL AT THE SMALL WINGO HIGH SCHOOL WHERE ADRIAN DORN, WHO LATER BECAME PRESIDENT OF MOREHEAD UNIVERSITY, WAS DAD'S PRINCIPAL AND COACH.

HIS WIFE GAVE HIM PIANO LESSONS AND THEY BOTH BECAME HIS LIFELONG FRIENDS.

ONE SUMMER, DAD WAS A LIFEGUARD A KENTUCKY LAKE AND WAS FEATURED ON A POSTCARD PROMOTING THE AREA.

YOU MAY KNOW THAT HE WAS A PROUD MARINE.

HOWEVER, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT JUST AS HE WAS COMPLETING BOOT CAMP ON PARRIS ISLAND, LITERALLY JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AWAY FROM FINISHING, HE BECAME SERIOUSLY ILL, AND AFTER RECUPERATING IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS, HE HAD TO REPEAT THE MARINE CORPS' RIGOROUS BASIC TRAINING A SECOND TIME.

HE SAID WHEN HE RECOVERED AND RETURNED TO THE BASE AND WENT INTO HIS NEWLY ASSIGNED BARRACKS TO START OVER AGAIN, THE NEW RECRUITS IMMEDIATELY JUMPED UP AND STOOD AT ATTENTION AS HE ENTERED.

STARTLED, HE REALIZED IT WAS BECAUSE HIS FATIGUES WERE ALREADY FADED FROM THE SUN AND LOOKED LIKE THE ONES THE OFFICERS ALREADY WORE.

HE SAID HE TOLD THEM, RELAX, GUYS.

I'M JUST ONE OF YOU.

DAD WAS AUDE JAY AT CWCBL RADIOTATION IN BENTON WHERE ONE WINTER DAY RATHER THAN GOING OUTSIDE IN FREEZING COLD TO READ THE THERMOMETER HE GOT IN TROUBLE FOR GUESSING THE TEMPERATURE THAT HE WAS ANNOUNCING TO LISTENS HAVE LISTENERS.

[LAUGHTER] WHEN WE WERE KIDS, DAD SPENT HOURS WORKING WITH YOU ARE W. OUR GERMAN SHEPHERD MORGAN AND ENDED UP WINNING FIRST PLACE AT THE KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW.

HE LOVED GARDENING AND REALLY APPRECIATED THE BEAUTY OF TREES.

HE WAS A STICKLER ON MULCHING AND HOW IT SHOULD BE SPREAD AROUND THE BASE OF THE TREES AND ALWAYS POINTED OUT INCORRECT MULCHING WHENEVER HE SAW IT.

[LAUGHTER] IN 1967, HE STARTED A GOLF GOLF TOURNAMENT HIS GOOD FRENS NFL REFEREE TOMMY BELL, COACH CHARLIE BRADSHAW AND ATTORNEY PETE PEARLMAN, THE BLUEGRASS OPE AND CLOSED.

THAT YEAR IT WAS JUST THE FOUR OF THEM BUT EVEN SO THEY MANAGED TO GET A PROMINENT SPREAD ABOUT IT IN THE SPORTS SECTION OF THE NEWSPAPER.

A FUNNY PRANK AT THE TIME, IT CREW GREW INTO AN ANNUAL TOURNAMENT THAT STILL CONTINUES, AND AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, DOESN'T TAKE THE GOLFING THAT SERIOUSLY.

DAD HAD NEAT, DISTINCTIVE HANDWRITING.

HE PRINCIPLED IN ALL CAPITALMENTS EXCEPT HIS SUGGESTED AND ALWAYS SIGNED HIS NOTES TO US WITH Xs AND Es AND A HAPPY FACE.

HE LOVED MUSIC, ESPECIALLY FRANK SINATRA AND TONY BENNETT AND WOULD SING ALONG AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.

HE ALSO ENJOYED WHISTLING, OFTEN THE HYMNS HE LEARNED AS A BOY GOING TO THE WINGO BAPTIST CHURCH.

DAD CARRIED A COOS OOH IN HIS POCKET AND WOULD -- KAZOO IN HIS POCKETED AND WOULD PULL IT OUT INGYM ALTERNATE OFTEN AT PUBLIC VENUES.

HE WOULD ENTHUSIASTICALLY JOIN IN WITH STREET PERFORMERS DURING SPORTING EVENTS.

HE TOOK ANY OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY ALONG.

BUT I THINK HE ENJOYED IT MOST WHEN HE COULD GLEEFULLY KAZOO WITH THE RADIO WHEN WE WERE ALL TRAPPED IN THE CAR WITH HIM.

[LAUGHTER] OF COURSE, THERE ARE SOME STORIES THAT MOM SAID NOT TO MENTION, LIKE THE I'M TIME HE WENT AWOL WITH A BUDDY FROM THE MARINES OR THE TIME HE TOOK PART IN LETTING A WILD TURKEY LOOSE IN THE HOUSE CHAMBERS RIGHT HERE IN THIS CAPITOL BUILDING.

[LAUGHTER] AND CONGRESSMAN ROGERS, YOU AND DAD SERVED TOGETHER AND HAD A LONG AND WONDERFUL FRIENDSHIP.

WE KNOW YOU HAVE PLENTY OF STORIES, TOO, AND MOM PROBABLY DOESN'T WANT SOME OF THOSE TOLD, EITHER.

[LAUGHTER] SPEAKING OF MOM, MAKING ALL OF DAD'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FUN AND ESCAPADES POSSIBLE WAS OUR MOTHER.

HE MET HER AT THE WESTERN KENTUCKY FAIR, SEEING HER ACROSS THE WAY, HE WALKED UP TO A BOOTH SHE WAS HOSTING AND 15ED INTEREST IN THE APRONS THAT WERE ON DISPLAY.

[LAUGHTER] AFTER SOME SMALL TALK ABOUT THE FABRICS AND PATTERNS, HE WORKED UP THE COURAGE TO ASK HER IF SHE'D LIKE TO GO GET A COCA-COLA.

THE INVITATION WORK, AND THAT LINE, JUST ASK HER IF SHE'D LIKE TO GO GET A COCA-COLA, BECAME HIS LIFE LOANING ADVICE TO JOSH AND ALL OF HIS FRIENDS.

[LAUGHTER] BY THE WAY, HE DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME, BUT THE NIGHT BEFORE THEY MET, MOM HAD BEEN CROWNED FARM BUREAU QUEEN.

AND NOW, THANKS TO HIS SUAVE LINE, DAD WAS DATING ROYALTY.

[LAUGHTER] AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, MOM WAS THE MORE SERIOUS ONE, MANAGING TO GET HER MASTER'S DEGREE WHILE TEACHING, RAISING CHILDREN, AND HELPING WITH CAMPAIGNS BEING RUN OFF OUR KITCHEN TABLE.

SHE WOULD PICK US UP FROM SCHOOL, AND WE WOULD WALK DOOR TO DOOR CAMPAIGNING UNTIL IT GOT DARK.

HOM WELCOMED COUNTLESS VOLUNTEERS INTO THEIR HOME AND MOST BECAME LIFELONG FRIENDS.

SHE WAS HIS CHIEF ADVISER AND WOULD PLAY THE STRAIGHT MAN TO DAD'S FUNNY REMARKS AND ANTICS.

BUT WHAT A TEAM.

HE'D BE THE FIRST -- HE'D BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU THAT SHE WAS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO HIM.

DAD WAS SO PROUD OF HIS GRANDCHILDREN AND TOOK SUCH INTEREST IN THEIR INTERESTS.

HE ATTEND AND PHOTOGRAPHED THEIR PIANO RECITALS AND SPORTING EVENTS, BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL AND HOCKEY.

HE ENCOURAGED THEIR MUSICAL TALENTS AND THEIR EDUCATION.

HE LOVED TO TAKE THEM TO THE CIRCUS, KINGS ISLAND, THE WOODnd ARTS FAIR FOR ICE CREAM AND TO THE MOVIES.

ANYWHERE THEY WANTED TO GO, HE WANTED TO GO.

IF THEY WERE OUT IN A STORE AND HE SAW THEM LINGERING OVER ANYTHING, HE'D SAY, BUT PUT IT IN THE CART.

LET'S FILL IT UP.

HAVING GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN JUST CONTINUED TO FUEL THE FUN AND CHILD IN HIM.

HE LOVED ENTERTAINING THEM WITH MAGIC FRICTION AND TEACHING THEM TO WHISTLE AND COOS OOH.

HE REMIND THEM EVERY TIME HE SAW THEM THAT IF THEY EVER NEEDED ANYTHING, HE WAS THEIR MAN.

WE NEVER HAD TO WONDER ABOUT -- WE NEVER HAD TO WONDER ABOUT DAD'S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

HE SHOWED US HIS LOVE EVERY DAY AND AND IN EVERYTHING HE DID.

HE HUGGED US AND NEVER MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US HOW MUCH HE LOVED US.

WHEN DAD TURNED 75, HE HOPED HE'D HAVE ANOTHER FIVE GOOD YEARS AND MAKE IT TO 80.

SO AS A REMINDER TO HIMSELF NOT TO TAKE ANY DAY OR ANY WEEK FOR GRANTED, HE DECIDED TO PUT 260 MARBLES IN A JAR, EACH REPRESENTING A WEEK, FOR FIVE YEARS, AND EACH WEEK HE WOULD TAKE OUT A MARTIAL AND LOOK FOR SOMEONE TO GIVE IT TO YOU.

A MARTIAL MARBLE.

HE CALLED THEM LUCKY MARBLES.

HE NEVER GAVE ANY OF US THE MARBLE OUTRIGHT.

INSTEAD WE'D FIND THEM LATER IN A HANDBAG, IN A POCKET, IN THE CUP HOLDER OF THE CAR OR SOME OTHER LAN RANDOM PLACE AND, OF COURSE, WHEN WE FOUND THEM, KNEE WE KNEW HE'D DISCREETLY LEFT THEM THERE.

HE LOVED TO GIVE THEM TO STRANGERS, AND WHEN HIS OUTSTRETCHED HAND HOLDING THAT BECOME'S LUCKY MARBLE, HE HAD SAY, WEEK'S LUCKY MARBLE, HE'D SAY, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU COULD USE SOME LUCK.

I SOMETIMES HELD MY BREATH WHEN HE DID THIS, AFRAID HIS OFFER MIGHT BE REJECTED.

HOWEVER, NO ONE EVER DID.

AND ALTHOUGH THEY SOMETIMES STEAMED A LITTLE DEV DUBIOUS ABOUT THE LUCKY PART, THEY ALWAYS BROKE INTO A BIG SMILE.

THIS SMALL GESTURE MADE PEOPLE SO HAPPY, AND THAT MADE HIM EVEN HAPPIER.

WE OFTEN HEAR THAT PEOPLE STILL HAVE THEIR LUCKY MARBLES.

AS THE MARBLES IN THE JAR -- AS THE MARBLES IN THE JAR BEGAN TO DWINDLE DOWN, I JUST COULDN'T BEAR THIS REMINDER THAT HIS YEARS WERE ALSO DWINDLING DOWN, SO I STARTED ADDING MARBLE BACK INTO THE JAR.

[LAUGHTER] HE EVENTUALLY CAUGHT ON TO IT.

[LAUGHTER] AND ALTHOUGH A LITTLE ANNOYED THAT THIS HAD INTERRUPTED HIS COUNTDOWN WITH THE MARBLES, HE APPRECIATED MY GESTURE.

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IT WAS HARD TO SEE SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN SO ACTIVE AND VIBRANT DECLINE.

TUMOR AND DIMINISHED EYE SIGHT TOOK AWAY HIS BELOVED HOBBY PHOTOGRAPHY.

ALTHOUGH IT BECAME DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO WRITE, HE STILL LOVED TO SEND NOTES TO FRIEND, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN.

HE'D LAUGH AND SAY WITH HIS SHAKING HANDS THAT HE WOULDN'T BE ORDERING PEAS OR SOUP OFF THE MENU.

HE COULD NO LONGER GO TO LUNCH WITH FRIENDS OR GET OUT LIKE HE USED TO, WHICH WAS HARD FOR SOMEONE WHO LOVED BEING WITH OTHERS SO MUCH.

IN APRIL 2020, HE HAD A BAD FALL AT HOME ONE NIGHT THAT REQUIRED EMERGENCY SURGERY, AND HE NEVER REALLY WALKED AGAIN.

RERECUPERATEING AND EVENTUALLY LIVING IN A NEARBY NURSING HOME, LIKE THE OTHER RESIDENTS, HE COULDN'T LEAVE HIS ROOM OR HAVE VISITORS FOR OVER A YEAR DUTY CONTAGIOUS CORONAVIRUS.

HIS ROOM WINDOW BECAME HIS LIFELINE TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND WHAT FRIENDS HE HAD.

SO MANY SENDING CARDS AND VISITING HIM WEEKLY.

THEIR VISITS AND KINDNESS MEANT SO MUCH AND KEPT HIM GOING.

WHILE IN THE NURSING HOME, DAD WOULD FREQUENTLY TELL US HOW SORRY HE FELT FOR ALL THE OLD PEOPLE THERE.

[LAUGHTER] WE CHUCKLED TO OURSELVES THAT HE WAS CALLING EVERYONE ELSE OLD.

BUT, YOU SEE, IN HIS HEART HE WAS STILL THAT YOUNG BOY FROM WINGO.

WHO NEVER PASSED UP A TOY STORE, ICE CREAM SHOP, CIRCUS, AMUSEMENT PARK, SPORTING EVENT OR FAIR OR ANY CHANCE TO HAVE FUN BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD THIS DAY WOULD COME SOON ENOUGH.

THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE HE DID EVERYTHING WITH PURPOSE WITH MEANING, AND LOVE, AND WITH THE HEART AND EXCITEMENT OF A CHILD.

>> I ASKED AN ELDERLY MAN ONCE WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE OLD AND TO KNOW THE MAJORITY OF HIS LIF WAS BEHIND HIM.

HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS BEEN THE SAME AGE HIS ENTIRE LIFE.

HE SAID THE VOICE INSIDE OF HIS HEAD HAD NEVER AG.

HE HAD ALWAYS JUST BEEN THE SAME BOY, HIS MOTHER'S SON.

HE HAD ALWAYS WONDERED WHEN HE WOULD GROW UP AND BE AN OLD MAN HE SAID HE WATCHED HIS BODY AGE AND HIS FACULTIES DULL, BUT THE PERSON HE IS INSIDE NEVER GOT T NEVER AGED.

NEVER CHANGED.

OUR SPIRITS ARE ETERNAL.

OUR SOULS ARE FOREVER.

THE NEXT TIME YOU ENCOUNTER AN ELDERLY PERSON, LOOK AT THEM AND KNOW THEY ARE STILL A CHILD, JUST AS YOU ARE STILL A CHILD, AND CHILDREN WILL ALWAYS NEED LOVE, ATTENTION AND" >> A READING FROM THE BOOK OF MATTHEW.

JESUS SAID "LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME, AND DO NOT HINDER THEM; FOR IT IS TO THOSE WHO ARE CHILDLIKE THAT THE KINGDOM OF THE HEAVENS BELONGS."

>> THOUGHTS FROM WIN POOH.

"HOW LUCKY AM I TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT MAKES SAYING GOODBYE SO HARD.

"WE DIDN'T REALIZE WE WERE MAKING MEMORIES; WE JUST KNEW WE WERE HAVING FUN "IF EVER THERE COMES A DAY WHEN WE CAN'T BE TOGETHER, KEEP ME I YOUR HEART; I'LL STAY THERE FOR" >> I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS A CRYER, AND YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

[LAUGHTER] WE'RE HERE TODAY TO REMEMBER LARRY JONES HOPKINS, HUSBAND, A FATHER, THE GRANDFATHER, AND A GREAT-GRANDFATHER.

AND HE WAS -- OH, BOY -- HE WAS MY BEST PAL.

THAT'S WHAT HE USED TO ALWAYS SAY.

FROM WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID HE'D BE LIKE, WE'RE BEST PALS.

DON'T FORGET.

I'LL NOT FORGET, DAD.

FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES WE'LL BE BEST PALS.

AND HE ALWAYS SAID, I'M PROUD OF YOU.

I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.

HE SAID IT TO ALL OF US.

AND HE WAS.

HOW MANY TIMES DID HE SAY HE WAS PROUD OF YOU?

WELL, WE WERE PROUD OF HIM AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HEAR ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT HIM.

TO US SINCE THE PASSING OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, A KIND AND GREAT FRIEND, COMPASSIONATE, BIPARTISAN.

BUT IF YOU KNEW LARRY HOPKINS, REALLY KNEW HIM, YOU KNOW, HE WAS FUN.

HE WAS A LOT OF FUN.

AS I SIT AND REMINISCE WITH MY MOM THIS WEEK, I ASKED HER, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TRAITS YOU REMEMBER AND YOU'RE GOING TO MISS?

AND FIRST THING SHE SAID WAS, "I LOVED THE CHILD SPIRIT THAT WAS ALWAYS INSIDE OF HIM."

AND AS YOU'VE HEARD, HE WAS A BIG KID, AND HE LOVED THE PLAY, AND HE MADE THINGS FUN.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS REASONS -- IT CAME TO HIM NATURALLY, BUT ONE OF THE REASONS HE WAS A CHILD ALWAYS, BECAUSE HE HAD A GREAT CHILDHOOD.

HE WAS BORN IN DETROIT DURING THE DEPRESSION BECAUSE HIS FAMILY HAD TO MOVE FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY TO GET WORK, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY FORTUITOUS TO HIM.

I MEAN, SURE, IT WAS TOUGH TIMES, BUT IT FORCED THEM ALL TO LIVE TOGETHER IN ONE HOUSE, AND ALWAYS THE EXTROVERT, DAD LOVED IT AS A LITTLE KID.

HIS MOM WAS THE OLDEST OF SEVEN SISTERS, AND CAN YOU IMAGINE WHEN LITTLE LARRY SHOWED UP HOW THEY DOTED ON HIM.

[LAUGHTER] I DO HAVE TO SAY NOW JUST -- HE WOULD LOVE JUST TO KNOW THAT HE ISY THESE NAMES WERE SAID.

TWO OF HIS FAVORITE PEOPLE WERE HIS AUNT GEORGIA DEE WHO HE WOULD VISIT EVERY SUMMER WHEN HE'D GO TO KENTUCKY AND SHE'D HOST HIM, AND THOSE WERE LIKE THE BEST TIMES OF MY DAD'S CHILDHOOD.

IT WAS LIKE SUMMER EXAMPLE AND DISNEYLAND ALL ROLLED INTO ONE, AND HE OFTEN CALLED HER THE SWEETEST LADY HE EVER KNEW.

AND THEN HIS OTHER AUNT, HIS MOTHER'S YOUNGEST SISTER BISCAYNE BAY RUTH BABE RUTH JONES.

OBVIOUSLY SHE WAS NAMED FOR THE CANDY BAR.

NO, SHE WAS NAMED FOR BABE RUTH.

AND SHE WAS AS MAGIC AND WONDERFUL AND UNIQUE AS SOMEONE THAT WAS NAMED BABE RUTH.

AND DAD ALWAYS WORSHIPED THE GROUND SHE WALKED ON.

WELL, EVENTUALLY HIS PARENTS MOVED BACK TO WESTERN KENTUCKY, A PLACE HE HAD ALWAYS CALLED HOME, AND HE SAID HIS PARENTS SHOWERED HIM WITH LOVE.

HE SAID THEY WERE ALWAYS WAY TOO GOOD TO ME.

HIS MOTHER, LOUISE JONES HOPKINS, SHE WAS FIERCELY MOTIVATED.

SHE SOLD ENCYCLOPEDIAS DOOR TO DOOR, AND SHE WAS GOOD AT IT.

SHE ONCE LED THE ENTIRE FLATION IN ENCYCLOPEDIAS SOLD.

THE ENTIRE NATION.

SHE WAS BRING TAN CASE FIRST WOMAN TO BE NAMED MAN OF THE YEAR.

[LAUGHTER] AND THE SECOND AND THE THIRD AND THE FOURTH.

HISSES DAD, GLENN HOPKINS, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN BY ALL OF US AS GRAN DADDY GLENN, WAS A LOT OF FUN.

THERE WAS A LOT DAD GOT GOT FROM HIM.

HE WAS A BIG KID.

AND HE WAS MAGIC.

LIKE DAD, WHERE HE WENT, LAUGHTER FOLLOWED.

I REMEMBER GOING TO ONE OF THOSE DINING, A WESTERN KENTUCKY BARBECUE PLACES, SITTING DOWN, AND THE WAITRESS COMING UP.

SHE WAS IN THE MOOD.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE, MM-HM, MM-HM.

AND BY THE TIME -- [LAUGHTER] WHY EVERY TIME DO I LAUGH DO I CRY?

IT'S THE WEIRDEST THING.

BY THE TIME SHE HAD TAKEN OUR ORDER, SHE WAS HOWL AND CALCKING.

HE HAD ALREADY TURNED HER ENTIRE DAY AROUND.

AND WHEN WE LEFT THE RESTAURANT, EVERYONE WAS WAVING AND LAUGHING, AND I WAS THINKING THAT WAS SOME SORT OF SUPER POWER, AND IT WAS.

HE WAS ALSO AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS THE BATCHY HOKIE MAN FOR HIS SIGNATURE LINE WHEN HE WAS DOING LIVING LITTLE TRICKS FOR US KIDS.

HE'D BE LIKE, BATCHY HOKIE, BATCHY HOKIE AND MADE YOU COME UP, BATCHY HOKIE AND, POOF, THERE WOULD BE THE CANDY.

BATCH HOKIE AND HE'D PULL A NICKEL OUT OF YOUR EAR.

THAT KIND OF STUFF.

HE WASN'T PULLING RABBITS OUT.

HE WAS JUST FUN.

AND I REMEMBER THAT THE ADULTS WATCHING WERE HAVING MORE FUN WATCHING THAN US KIDS WHO WERE ASTOUNDED WITH HIM.

HE WAS LIKE HE WAS THE FIRST PIXAR MOVIE.

AND ESPECIALLY FOR HIS SUGGESTED TRICK, WHERE HE WOULD CALL THE KIDS OVER, HIS SIGNATURE TRICK, AND HE HAD TURN HIS EAR AND STICK HIS DENTURES BACK IN.

HE'D LIKE -- [LAUGHTER] I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT DENTURES WERE, SO FREAKED ME OUT.

[LAUGHTER] AND THEN I NOTICED ALL THE ADULTS LAUGHING, ENJOYING IT IN THE BACKGROUND ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL THAN MAYBE WE WERE.

HE ALWAYS REFLECTED ON HIS CHILDHOOD WITH JOY AND THAT CARRIED HIM THROUGH HIS GRADUATION AT WINGO HIGH AND THEN ON THROUGH HIS NOW FAMOUS WOULD YOU LIKE A COCA-COLA LINE.

BUT BEFORE THEY WERE TO SEAL THE DEAL AND FINALLY GET TOGETHER FOR GOOD, THERE WERE SOME MORE SCHOOLING AT MURRAY STATE AND THEN ON TO THE MARINE CORPS.

AND MY DAD WAS SO PROUD.

BUCKLE UP, BOYS.

MY DAD WAS SO PROUD HAVING BEEN A U.S. MARINE.

AT THE BURIAL YESTERDAY, MY MOM SAID THAT HE WAS PROUD OFFER OF BEING A MARINE THAN BEING IN CONGRESS, AND HE OFTEN TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANT LESSONS HE LEARNED, ABOUT THE DISCIPLINE AND WORK ETHIC AND HOW IT CHANGED HIS LIFE.

AND, YES, DAD WAS SO PROUD TO BE IN THE MANNER CORPS, BUT DO NOT MISTAKE THAT FOR ENJOYING BEING IN THE MARINE CORPS.

AFTER THOSE TWO STINTS AT BOOT CAMP AND TWO MONTHS IN THE HOSPITAL, HE COULD NOT WAIT TO GET OUT OF THE MARINE CORPS.

HE WAS SIGNED OUT OF PARRIS ISLAND.

HE WAS ASSIGNED TO SOMETHING IN CALIFORNIA, AND HE COULDN'T WAIT TO GO.

RIGHT BEFORE HE WAS TO LEAVE, A COLONEL CALLED HIM INTO HIS OFFICE, SAT HIM DOWN AND HE SAID, "PRIVATE."

DAD SAID THIS GUY WAS THE MOST GUNG WHO MARINE YOU HAD EVER SEEN.

THINK ABOUT THE MOST GUNG HO MARINE YOU HAVE EVER SEEN AND DOUBLE IT.

HE SAID, PRIVATE, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME.

I'M GOING TO SEND YOU TO FLIGHT SCHOOL.

YOU'VE GOT TO COURSE SCORES.

YOU'VE GOT WHAT IT STAKES, AND I'M GOING TO LET YOU BE A PILOT.

DAD -- NO HYPERBOLE, SAID IN THE BACKGROUND,.

♪ FROM THE HALLS OF MONTEZUMA" HE WASN'T KIDDING.

IT WAS TOUGH FOR HIM.

HE SAID, "NO THANK YOU, SIR.

I SIGNED UP FOR MY TIME AND I THINK I'LL FINISH."

WELL, THAT GUNG HO MARINE EXPLODED IN EXPLETIVES, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE.

HE SAID, "WELL, SON 1 YOU'RE GOING TO FLY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER."

AND DAD WAS NO LONGER OFF TO CALIFORNIA.

HE WAS OFF TO NEW JERSEY.

H. TO JUMP SCHOOL WHERE HE HAD HUNDREDS OF JUMPS OVER THE MONTHS TESTING EXPERIMENTAL PARACHUTES.

[LAUGHTER] YEAH.

FUN.

THEN I ASKED MOM WHAT WHAT ELSE SHE LOVED ABOUT HIM, AND SHE SAID, "HE LOVED LIFE, AND HE WAS A GO-GETTER."

SHE SAID IN THE MORNING HE WAS THE FIRST UP OUT OF BED, SHOWERED, PUT ON HIS SUIT, AND WAS THE FIRST ONE OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, OFF TO CONQUER THE WORLD.

THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID.

I CAN REMEMBER HIM IN THE MORNING.

HE WAS A MORNING PERSON AND I WASN'T.

AND I CAN OFTEN REMEMBER HIS, "ALL RIGHT, LET'S ROCK AND ROLL, SPORTS FANS.

LET'S GO.

LET'S START THE DAY!"

[LAUGHTER] AND I RID OF THE, WHICH IS WHY HE OFTEN SAID THAT IT WOULD DO ME GOOD TO DO A SUMMER AMOUNT OF PARRIS ISLAND.

HARD PASS.

WELL, PEOPLE IN THE CITY TOOK NOTICE OF DAD'S HARD WORK AND HIS GO-GETTER SPIRIT.

AND ONE DAY HE GOT A CALL FROM THE COUNTY JUDGE, ASKED HIM TO COME DOWN TO HIS OFFICE.

DAD HAD NO IDEA WHY, BUT HE WENT, AND WHEN WE WENT IN, HE SAID THERE WERE TWO OR THREE MEN SITTING THERE VERY SERIOUSLY, AND DID THEY SAT HIM DOWN.

THEY SAID THAT THE COUNTY CLERK HAD PASSED AND THEY WANTED HIM TO REPLACE HIM.

DAD HAD NO IDEA WHY HE WAS KNOWN AS A PRETTY GOOD BUSINESSMAN, AND I GUESS THEY THOUGHT HE'D BE A GOOD REPLACEMENT.

DAD DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT.

HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HOURS AWAY FROM WORK AND HIS FAMILY, BUT HE AGREED.

AND WHEN HE GOT TO THE OFFICE, HE WAS SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT IT WAS IN SHAMBLES, WILDLY IN DEBT, AND NOT COLLECTING ALL THE TAXES THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO.

WELL, DAD ROLLED UP HIS SLEEVES AND THE GO-GETTER GOT TO GO-GETTING.

HE CLEANED UP THE OFFICE.

HE REPLACED THE CIGAR BOXES FULL OF CASH WITH CASH REGISTERS.

THEY WERE NEVER SO LIGHT AGAIN.

SO HE CLEANED IT UP AND QUICKLY RIGHTED THE SHIP, AND PEOPLE NOTICED THAT, ALSO, AND IT WASN'T JUST BECAUSE HE GOT THE DEPARTMENT BACK UP AND GOING.

IT WAS BECAUSE HE DID IT AND PEOPLE STILL LIKED HIM.

AND THEY REALLY LIKED HIM, AND HE LIKED THEM TOO.

SO THAT'S WHEN AN ACCIDENTAL POLITICAL CAREER WAS LAUNCHED.

MOM WENT ON TO TELL ME A STORY THAT NIGHT.

SHE SAID WHEN HE WAS NEWLY IN OFFICE AS A REPRESENTATIVE HERE IN THIS BUILDING, HE GOT A CALL ONE DAY, AND IT WAS A COMMUNITY OF MOSTLY WOMEN CALLING ON HIM BECAUSE THERE WAS A TRAIN TRACK THAT RAN THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY CROSSING GATES, AND THEY WERE AFRAID SOMEONE WAS GOING TO GET HURT AND THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL BUSES HAD TO GO BACK OVER THEM TWICE A DAY.

THEY HAD CALLED THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING BACK.

SO THEY CAME TO DAD.

DAD SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I WILL GET THIS DONE.

I PROMISE YOU I'LL GET THIS DONE.

AND HE CALLED ON THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

DIDN'T HEAR MUCH BACK.

NOT MUCH HAPPENED.

FELL ON DEAF EARS.

WELL, THE NEXT DAY HE HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE.

ON THOSE TRACKS WITH ALL THE MOMS BEHIND HIM, AND NEEDLESS TO SAY, NEXT WEEK THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WOULD BE A CROSSING GATE RIGHT THERE.

AND THAT WAS HIS CAN-DO SPIRIT.

THAT'S THE WAY HE WAS.

HE LOVED A CHALLENGE, AS SHE SAID.

AND DAD WAS SO HONORED AND PROUD TO SERVE HERE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CAPITOL.

IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

AND IT'S COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT HE WALKED THESE FLOORS, AND IT'S ALSO COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT HE WAS SO FULFILLED IN HIS YOUTHFUL DAYS AND WAS A GO-GETTER AND PEOPLE NOTICED AGAIN, ASKED HIM TO RUN FOR CONGRESS.

NOW, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, EVERYTHING WE KNOW NOW WAS FLIPPED ABOUT KENTUCKY.

IT WAS DOMINANTLY DEMOCRAT.

SOME OF THE COUNTIES IN THIS DISTRICT WERE 22-TO-1 DEMOCRAT.

HE HAD HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM.

THERE HADN'T BEEN A REPUBLICAN THE IN SEAT IN 50 YEARS AND ONLY ONCE SINCE THE CIVIL WAR.

ANDY, GOOD WORK KEEPING IT.

BUT HE LOVED A CHALLENGE, AND LIFE SOMEHOW WORKS IN MATERS WAYS, AND -- MYSTERIOUS WAYS, AND AT THIS MOMENT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF SYNERGY AND ENERGETIC, SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED AROUND MOM AND DAD, AND I HAVE TO IMAGINE THIS WAS THE MOST EXCITING TIME IN THEIR LIFE BECAUSE PEOPLE STARTED GALVANIZE AROUND DAD.

THEY STARTED TO FEEL HIS ENERGY AND PLAY OFF OF IT.

PEOPLE STARTED TO HAVE FUN CAMPAIGNING BECAUSE HE HAD FUN.

HE'D GO DOOR TO DOOR AND HAVE FUN.

THEY'D GO DOOR TO DOOR AND HAVE FUN.

AND HE GOT SO LUCKY BECAUSE SO MANY WONDERFUL, SMART, YOUNG AND OLD PEOPLE JOINED IN IN A CAUSE BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES, AND MOM AND DAD WERE CAUGHT UP IN IT, AND YOU HAD TO IT HAD TO BE SO EXCITING.

THEY MADE SO MANY FRIENDS THAT THEY STILL HAVE TO THIS DAY.

AND THAT WAS ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT THEN HE WON.

YOU KNOW, DAD, HE WOULD COME TO CALIFORNIA EVERY SO OFTEN, AND WE'D TAKE TRIPS UP AND DOWN THE WEST COAST WITH MY DOG, A GERMAN SHEPHERD, AND ONE TIME I ASKED HIM, WHAT WAS IT LIKE, DAD?

YOU KNOW, BEING IN CONGRESS ACCIDENTALLY.

WHAT DID THAT FEEL LIKE TO ARRIVE IN WASHINGTON?

AND HE SAID, WOW, YOU KNOW, I WAS OVERWHELMED.

ALL THE HISTORY AND THE GRAVITY.

AND HE THOUGHT, WOW, HOW DID I END UP HERE?

HOW THE HELL DID I WIND BEING A CONGRESSMAN?

HE PAUSE FOR A SECOND, AND HE SAID IT WASN'T BUT A FEW MONTHS UNTIL HE THOUGHT, HOW IN THE HELL DID THESE GUYS END UP BEING CONGRESSMEN?

[LAUGHTER] DAD'S HUMOR WAS LEGENDARY, WELL NOTED.

I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST GOT TO WASHINGTON, HE TAUGHT ME A LESSON ABOUT HUMOR.

WE WERE DRIVING IN, I WAS NINE YEARS OLD, NEVER BEEN THERE, STAFF WERE DRIVING, DAD IN PASSENGER SEAT AND I WAS IN THE BACK SEAT.

AND HE STARTED POINTING THINGS OUT.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE JEFFERSON MEMORIAL AND THE PENTAGON AND THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT, COLOGNE MONUMENT, AND I STOPPED AND I SAID, I SEE THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

AND DAD, NOT MISSING A BEAT, GOES, YOU GOT GOOD EYES.

[LAUGHTER] THE STAFFER ALMOST WRECKED LAUGHING.

THEN DAD EXPLAINED TO ME THAT STATUE OF LIBERTY WAS IN NEW YORK CITY, AND THEN I REALIZED, I THOUGHT, THAT'S FUNNY.

MY DAD'S FUNNY.

DAD CHERISHED THOSE YEARS, AND HE WORKED SO HARD BACK AND FORTH FROM WASHINGTON, DC.

ON THE WEEKEND HE WOULD COME HOME BUT NOT FOR REST AND RELAXATION.

NO, HE WAS RIGHT OUT THE DOOR.

I WOULD BE ASLEEP WHEN HE'D COME IN, AND IN THE MORNING HE'D BE LONG GONE OFF TO CHURCHES AND FAIRS AND 4-H CLUBS AND MORE CHURCHES.

BUT HE NEVER COMPLAINED.

I NEVER HEARD HIM ONE TIME SAY, OH, I'M SO TIRED, OR I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO DO THIS.

BECAUSE, YOU SEE, HE WAS UTILIZING THE GIFTS HE HAD, THE GIFTS OF HUMOR AND COMMON SENSE, AND HE CUT THROUGH DIFFERENCES TO FIND THE HUMANITY.

HE MADE IT FUN.

AND WHETHER IT WAS A BLESSING FROM GOD OR KISMET OR LUCK OR THE SHIP OF LIFE, DAD FOUND HIMSELF IN THE PERFECT PLACE, IN THE PLACE HE WAS EXACTLY SUPPOSED TO BE.

AND WHAT A GIFT FOR US TO KNOW THAT IN HIS LIFE HE FOUND ABSOLUTE PURPOSE BETWEEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND PROFESSION.

HE WAS FULFILLED.

AND THAT MAKES ME AND ALL OF US SO HAPPY, AND IT MAKES IT A LITTLE EASIER KNOWING THAT.

DAD WAS SUCH A PATRIOT.

HE LOVED KENTUCKY AND HE LOVED THIS COUNTRY.

WHEN WE WERE IN DC, HE NEVER MISSED A MOMENT TO TAKE HIMSELF TO ARLINGTON CEMETERY.

WE WENT A LOT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I SAW THE PASSING OF THE GUARD AT THE ATOM OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER.

HE'D TAKE US OUT TO LOOK AT ALL THOSE HEADSTONES PERFECTLY LINED UP.

EACH WITH A LIFE GIVEN, A LIFE WITH PARENTS, KIDS, HUSBANDS AND WIVES, WITH DREAMS AND HOPES AND PLANS AND LOVE TO GIVE.

HE NEVER MISSED A MOMENT TO TEACH US PERSPECTIVE.

IN RETIREMENT, DAD FINALLY GOT TO INDULGE -- EXCUSE ME -- IN WHAT HE LOVED AND WHAT HE LOVED MOST, FAMILY, BEING PAPAW.

GOING TO RECITAL AND GAMES AND GRADUATIONS AND MOVIES AND DOING MAGIC AND EATING ICE CREAM AND POPCORN.

HE ACTUALLY TOOK UP THE PIANO AND HE TAUGHT HIS GREAT-GRANDKIDS HOW TO WHISTLE AND HOW TO LIVE, AND HE PASSED THE LOVE HE GOT AS A CHILD ONTO THEM.

THE LAST FEW YEARS WERE TOUGH.

THEY WERE TOUGH ON ALL OF US.

TO SEE THAT INDOMITABLE FORCE SLOW AND SHAKE, HIS BODY BETRAYING HIM WHILE HIS ENTHUSIASTIC SPIRIT STRUGGLED TO PULL IT ALONG.

COVID WAS SO CRUEL AND PAINFUL TO ALL OF US, BUT IT WAS PARTICULARLY CRUSHING FOR THE BOY INSIDE OF DAD THAT COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE WAS ALONE.

THE FAMILY STEPPED UP.

WE CONSTANTLY CAME CALLING AND VISITED HIS WINDOW WITH BANNERS, WE LOVE YOU, PAPAW WHICH WOULD ADORN HIS ROOM LATER.

WE WEREN'T ALONE.

AS A TESTAMENT TO HIS LIFE, SO MANY FRIENDS CAME BY.

A LOT.

AND A LOT OF THEM WERE VOLUNTEER IN STAFF THAT HE HAD BLOWN HIS ENTIRE LIFE, AND NEVER STOPPED COMING UNTIL THE END.

BUT THE GO-GETTER HELD FAST AND WE MADE IT THROUGH COVID, AND WE WERE SO HAPPY WHAT WHEN WE FINALLY GOT TO GO IN AND HOLD HIM AND TALK TO HIM AND FEEL THE VIBRATION OF HIS SOUL AND HOW HE BEAMED.

AND THAT CHILD SPIRIT GLOWED UNTIL THE VERY END.

AND WE LOVED A MOVIE TOGETHER SO MUCH, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST.

IT WAS ONE OF OUR FAVORITES.

HE SHOWED IT TO ME PROBABLY TOO YOUNG.

IT FREAKED ME OUT BUT -- [LAUGHTER] -- I GREW TO LOVE IT.

IT'S MY FAVORITE PIECE OF ART IN ANY GENRE TO THIS DAY.

SO WE WOULD WATCH IT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

AND DAD OFTEN COMPARED THE FACILITY HE WAS IN TO THE CUCKOO'S NEST.

[LAUGHTER] AND ONE DAY A WOMAN CAME TO HIM TO GIVE HIM HIS QUARTERLY COGNITIVE TEST, AND SHE SAID, "NOW, MR. HOPKINS, AFTER OUR TEST, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO REPEAT THESE COLORS IN ORDER.

GREEN, PURPLE, RED."

GOT THAT?

YEAH.

GOT IT.

I GOT IT, NURSE RATCHET.

[LAUGHTER] HE WOULD GIGEL AND SHE'D GO ON AND SAY, YEP.

MS. RATCHET.

DID YOU EVER SEE THAT MOVIE?

AND SHE SAID, WHAT MOVIE IS THAT?

HE SAID, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST.

SHE SAID, NO, YOU I HAVEN'T.

HE SAID, YOU SHOULD SEE THAT MOVIE.

IT'S A REALLY GREAT FILM.

WHEN HE FINISHED HE SAID, OKAY, MR. HOPKINS, I WANT YOU TO CITE THOSE COLORS.

DO YOU REMEMBER THEM?

HE PAUSED AND HE SAID, NO, NO.

BUT LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOVIE I TOLD YOU ABOUT?

[LAUGHTER] SHE DIDN'T.

BUT SHE GRINNED, AND THE CHILD IN HIM SPARKED.

IN THE FINAL MONTHS I CHERISHED THE TIME JUST SITTING IN HIS ROOM TALKING.

HE KEPT SAYING HOW SCARED HE WAS OF THIS UPSIDE DOWN WORLD THAT HE WAS GOING TO LEAVE TO HIS GRANDKIDS.

HE THOUGHT THE INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL WAS SICKENING, AND HE WAS SAD TO SEE THE STATE OF HIS BELOVED CAPITOL HILL.

SEE, DAD HAD A FIRM COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY AND HONOR AND FAIR PLAY.

HE VIEWED HIS TIME OF SERVICE THROUGH THE LENS OF DIGNITY AND COMMON SENSE.

HE VALUES HUMAN ACCIDENTSY OVER ANY POLITICAL AGENDA.

HE UNDERSTOOD THAT HISTORY WAS WATCHING AND IT WHO NOT GRADE ON A CURVE.

AS HIS FINAL MINUTES TICKED, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE AT HIS SIDE HOLDING HIS HANDS AS HE TOOK HIS LAST BREATH, A PRIVILEGE I WILL NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED.

AND WHEN HE PASSED, OUR FAMILY GATHERED AND THEY HUGGED AND CRIED AND WE MOURNED.

AND THEN INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER, JUST DIFFERENT TIMES, BOTH MY SISTERS AND A NIECE OF MINE, THEY ALL SAID, HE WAS THE BEST DAD EVER.

AND WE AGREED.

THEY SAID, BUT NO, I KNOW EVERYONE SAYS THAT, BUT HE REALLY WAS THE BEST DAD EVER.

AND SHE'S RIGHT.

HE WAS THE BEST DAD EVER IN THE WORLD.

AND IF YOU FEEL SLIGHTED BY THAT ORE IF YOU WANT TO STAND UP AND SAY, NO, NO, MINE WAS, WELL, THEN YOU, TOO, HAD THE BEST DAD IN THE WORLD, AND WHAT A GIFT WE SHARE.

THANK YOU, DAD.

I LOVE YOU.

I'M PROUD OF YOU.

AND WE'RE STILL BEST PALS.

>> WHEN I WAS TWO, MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER CAUGHT.ME HOW TO WITH HIS.

I'M GOING TO WHISTLE ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SONGS, MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME.

PLEASE JOIN IN IF YOU CAN.

[APPLAUSE] >> PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECITING THE LORD'S PRAYER.

LET US PRAY.

OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.

THY KINGDOM COME; THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD; AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

FOR THINE IS THE POWER AND GLORY .

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER.

AMEN.

♪ MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE COMING OF THE LORD ♪ SNOWS HE IS TRAMPING OUT THE VINTAGE WHERE THE GRAPES OF WRATH ARE STORED ♪ WE HAVE LOOSED THE FATEFUL LIGHTNING OF HIS TERRIBLE SWIFT SWORD ♪ ♪ HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON.

♪ GLORY GLORY ♪ ♪ GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH ♪ ♪ GLORY GLORY ♪ ♪ GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH ♪ ♪ GLORIA ♪ ♪ GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH ♪ ♪ GLORIA ♪ ♪ HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON ♪ ♪ I HAVE SEEN HIM IN THE WATCH-FIRES OF A HUNDRED CIRCLING CAMPS ♪ ♪ THEY HAVE BUILDED HIM AN ALTAR IN THE EVENING DUES AND DAMPS ♪ ♪ I HAVE READ HIS RIGHTEOUS SENTENCE IN THE DIM AND FLARING LAMPS ♪ ♪ HIS TRUTH TRUTH IS MARCHING ON ♪ GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH ♪ ♪ GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH ♪ ♪ GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH ♪ ♪ HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON ♪ IN THE BEAUTY OF THE LILIES CHRIST WAS BORN ACROSS THE SEA ♪ WITH A GLORY IN HIS BOSOM THAT TRANSFIGURES YOU AND ME ♪ ♪ AS HE DIED TO MAKE MEN HOLY, LET US DIE TO MAKE MEN FREE ♪ ♪ OUR GOD IS MARCHING ON ♪ ♪ GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH ♪ ♪ GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH ♪ ♪ GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH ♪ ♪ HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON ♪ ♪ GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH ♪ ♪ GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH ♪ ♪ GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH ♪ ♪ HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON ♪ ♪ ON ON ON.

♪ AMEN.