Former President Jimmy Carter's funeral procession is retracing the route he took for his inaugural parade, but in reverse. In 1977, Carter and his wife Rosalynn walked down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House, a historic moment noted in the White House archives. Notably, Carter was the first president to leave his car and walk the parade route, a gesture that symbolized his connection with the American people.
Stuart Eizenstat, the author of 'President Carter: The White House Years,' remarked on the significance of the timing, noting that Carter was inaugurated on one of the coldest days of the year and is now being laid to rest during another cold spell. This sense of a life coming full circle adds a poignant touch to the proceedings.
The weather has played a role in shaping the events surrounding Carter's funeral. More than 5 inches of snow fell in the area on Monday, making it the snowiest day in two years. The inclement weather led to the closure of federal government offices in Washington on Monday, a closure that will extend through Tuesday as announced by the US Office of Personnel Management.
