Alma Powell, Colin Powell’s widow, led mourners. They included Joe and Jill Biden who were former presidents and some of the most prominent members the political and military elite.
Barack and Michelle Obama, George W. Bush and Laura Bush, and Hillary Clinton – without Bill during Bill’s recovery from an infection – sat together in front row at the Washington National Cathedral ceremony for the Pentagon powerhouse.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley, Defense secretary Lloyd Austin and Condoleeza rice, were also present to pay tribute the first black Secretary to State who served five administrations.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will eulogize the late general.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Susan Rice, Biden advisor, were also present at the service. State Department spokesperson Ned Price was also present.
Powell, who was fighting rare blood cancer, passed away last month at 84 due to complications from COVID-19. His family advised him to get vaccinated as his immune system was compromised from his battle with multiple myeloma.
The funeral will begin at noon ET. Obama and Biden are not expected to speak.
When the Bidens arrive, the row of ex first families is joined by them
President and First Lady Biden arrived in Washington after the Bushes, Obamas, and Bushes at Friday’s service at Washington National Cathedral. Former Secretary Madeleine Albright will offer a tribute to the late general.
Barack and Michelle Obama sit next to George Bush and Laura Bush at the funeral, while Hillary Clinton sits alone at the end.
Joe Biden, Barack Obama and others will lead the mourners at Colin Powell’s funeral service at Washington National Cathedral.
Powell’s casket arrives at National Cathedral
Guests pack in the National Cathedral pews
Hillary Clinton, former Secretary-of-State, talks to Dr. Anthony Fauci prior to the service
Former President George W. Bush, and former Secretary of State Condoleezza rice arrive at the funeral.
Former President Trump will not attend the funeral. He lambasted the media for ignoring Powell’s death one day after it happened.
Trump stated in a statement that it was a great honor to see Colin Powell who made huge mistakes in Iraq and, more importantly, the so-called weapons or mass destruction, be treated in death by the Fake Media. “Hope that happens for me someday. He was a classic RINO [Republican In Name Only]Even if he is not, he is always the first to attack other Republicans. Although he made many errors, may his soul rest in peace.
Powell will be eulogized by Albright, who preceded him as secretary of state; Richard Armitage, who was deputy secretary under Powell and had known him since they served together in the Pentagon during the Reagan administration; and Powell’s son Michael.
Alma, his wife and mother, who also tested positive to Covid around that time, their three children, and numerous grandchildren, are his survivors.
Morning dawns over National Cathedral in preparation for the funeral service of former Secretary of State Colin Powel
Former Vice President Dick Cheney was present with his wife Lynne Cheney. Powell was secretary-of-state when Cheney was VP
Colin Powell, 84, died last month from complications from COVID-19. Alma Powell, his wife of 84 years, is also leaving him. Alma was also a pioneer in coronavirus.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will give the eulogy for Colin Powell – the two are seen above with former secretaries of state James Baker (left) and Hillary Clinton (right) at September 2014 event at the State Department
Biden had ordered that all US flags on government buildings and military bases nationwide fly at half staff until October 22, in honor of the four-star general.
Powell was the first black secretary ofstate and remains the only black person to serve as chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell was the son of Jamaican immigrants who was born in Harlem in New York in 1937. He grew up on the South Bronx.
He served under several Republican administrations – including for Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.
He was also the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1991-1993 for Bill Clinton, having been appointed halfway through Bush Sr.’s tenure.
Powell was a 35-year veteran of the uniform. Powell was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1958 and served as a leader of a platoon in what was then West Germany.
He was assigned to Vietnam as an adviser to the South Vietnamese infantry battalion in 1962. He was wounded during the tour. In 1968, he returned to Vietnam for a second tour.
In the late 1970s he worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and in 1983 as a brigadier general he became the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger.
He was later appointed President Ronald Reagan’s National Security Advisor. In 1989, he was elevated to four-star general. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush chose him to be the chairman of Joint Chiefs.
Former President George W. Bush stated that Powell was a beloved president and that he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice.
His decades-long legacy was marred when he made a 2003 speech to United Nations Security Council, in which he claimed Iraq had weapons of destruction.
Powell, who left government, became an elder statesman and founder of an organization to help young Americans with disabilities.
Republicans wanted him to run for President, but he ended supporting the last three Democratic presidential candidates, including Obama and Biden.
Joe Biden, in a statement following Powell’s death, praised Powell for having ‘the highest ideals both of warrior and diplomat’. He also commemorated his humble beginnings. The two are shown above in January 2009.
Barack Obama called Powell ‘an exemplary soldier and an exemplary patriot’ – the two are seen above in December 2010
In a statement after Powell’s death, Biden commended Powell as having ‘the highest ideals of both warrior and diplomat’ and commemorating his humble beginnings.
Obama described Powell as an “exemplary soldier” and “an exemplary patriot”.
“And although he’d be first to admit that not every call was right, his actions were consistent with what he believed was best in America and for the people he served.”
Obama stated that he was ‘deeply grateful’ to Powell for his endorsement in 2008. However, what impressed him most was the way he did this.
“General Powell used the opportunity to get to at the heart of the matter, even though conspiracy theories were swirling and some were questioning my faith.
He recalled a time when Powell had corrected someone about Obama’s religious beliefs and said, “What if he’s?” Is it wrong to be Muslim in this country? It’s not America, so the answer is no. Is there anything wrong with a seven-year old Muslim-American child believing that he/she could be president?
Obama continued to say, “That’s who Colin Powell is.”