# Ever been to a State Funeral?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-state-funeral/249663>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 10, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-state-funeral/249663 "2004-06-10T16:58:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-state-funeral/249663/1 "2004-06-10T16:58:46Z")

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Have any Dopers ever been to a State Funeral? What is it like?

Please, this is not a thread to discuss your opinion of the deceased, whether it be Reagan, Johnson, Princess Diana, or whoever. There are other threads for that. I am interested in getting a feel for the ceremony. Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-state-funeral/249663/2 "2004-06-11T02:14:41Z")

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Not a state funeral, but I went to President Reagan’s viewing.

[Details here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=4951726#post4951726)

I also was an usher at the funeral for Senator John Heinz of Pennsylvania, some years ago. This wasn’t a state funeral, but had significant presence of politicians.

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**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-state-funeral/249663/3 "2004-06-11T03:49:14Z")

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Nitpick-Princess Diana did not have a state funeral.

Did Nixon have one?

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**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-state-funeral/249663/4 "2004-06-11T03:57:47Z")

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I do not recall Nixon’s funeral to be a State Funeral. I think it was a “private” funeral that was covered by the news outlets. Heads of state an/or their representatives attended, but I don’t think that qualifies it as a State Funeral.

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**Author:** ![Shadez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Shadez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadez)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-state-funeral/249663/5 "2004-06-11T04:02:58Z")

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Nixon’s family declined to have a state funeral.