Guard of Honor who collapsed during procession for the late John Lewis two days ago escorts the civil rights icon’s casket as it leaves the Capitols headed for his funeral in Atlanta
- John Lewis’s casket left Washington DC on Wednesday bound for a final funeral on Thursday in Atlanta
- Lewis had lain in state for two days beneath the Rotunda inside the Capitol – the first black politician to do so
- On Thursday a private funeral will be held in his hometown of Atlanta at the Ebenezer Baptist Church
- Martin Luther King Jr was co-pastor at the Atlanta church, following in the footsteps of his father
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The casket of John Lewis has left Washington DC after lying in state for two days, and will now head to Atlanta for final funeral ceremonies.
The famed civil rights leader and congressman died on July 17, at the age of 80, following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
On Wednesday his casket flew out of the capital, headed for Atlanta – a city he had represented as congressman for 17 consecutive terms, and more than 30 years.
A member of the honor guard who collapsed in the 96 degree heat on Monday, awaiting his casket, was back on duty on Wednesday and resumed his position carrying the politician’s remains.
John Lewis’s casket on Wednesday left Washington DC. A member of the honor guard who fainted on Monday – wearing white, third from left – was back on duty on Wednesday
The unfortunate member of the honor guard keeled over Monday in the 96 degree heat, leaving a gap in the eight-man team
John Lewis, known as the conscience of Congress, died on July 17 at the age of 80, after a struggle with pancreatic cancer
Celebrations of his life began on Saturday in Troy, Alabama – the town where he was born.
On Sunday his body was then taken, one last time, across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama – the bridge he marched across with Martin Luther King Jr in March 1965.
The procession arrived in Washington DC on Monday.
Lewis, known as ‘the conscience of Congress’, traveled through the streets in a motorcade, stopping by the Lincoln Memorial and passing along Black Lives Matter Plaza, renamed in June.
His coffin was carried to the Capitol where he lay in state under the Rotunda – the first black politician to be granted the honor.
Lewis’s casket is carried out of the Capitol on Wednesday, after two days of commemorations to celebrate his life and work
The Alabama-born congressman was the first black politician to lie beneath the Rotunda and followed John McCain
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (in blue) and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (next to her) look on as Lewis’s casket is taken out of the Capitol following two days of tributes
Pelosi is comforted by Michael Collins, Lewis’s long-serving chief of staff, on Wednesday as the casket left the Capitol
The casket was taken from the Capitol to the airport, where it was flown to Atlanta for a private funeral to be held Thursday
A service was held inside the Capitol on Monday afternoon, with Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House, and Senate leader Mitch McConnell among those delivering eulogies.
Joe Biden, Mike Pence and other political figures paid their respects after the ceremony. Donald Trump was noticeable in his absence.
The casket was moved outside for a public viewing on Monday evening and throughout Tuesday.
Then, on Wednesday, it begun the final leg of the journey.
Ceremonies will conclude on Thursday, with a private funeral at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta – a church with strong ties to the civil rights movement.
John Lewis’s casket is loaded on to a plane at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland for the flight to Atlanta
Friends and relatives of the congressman wave as the plane prepares to depart for Atlanta