This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8228229.stm
The article has changed 27 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Kennedy tributes at funeral Mass | Kennedy tributes at funeral Mass |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A funeral Mass for long-standing US Senator Edward Kennedy is being held in a basilica in Boston. | A funeral Mass for long-standing US Senator Edward Kennedy is being held in a basilica in Boston. |
| Some 1,500 guests are attending the service, with President Barack Obama due to deliver a eulogy. | Some 1,500 guests are attending the service, with President Barack Obama due to deliver a eulogy. |
| Tributes were paid to Senator Kennedy's political legacy but also to his role at the heart of the Kennedy clan. | Tributes were paid to Senator Kennedy's political legacy but also to his role at the heart of the Kennedy clan. |
| Mr Kennedy, who died of brain cancer on Tuesday aged 77, will later be buried in Washington near his assassinated brothers, ex-President John and Robert. | Mr Kennedy, who died of brain cancer on Tuesday aged 77, will later be buried in Washington near his assassinated brothers, ex-President John and Robert. |
| During a two-day public viewing at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library, some 50,000 people have paid their respects before the Massachusetts senator's flag-draped coffin. | During a two-day public viewing at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library, some 50,000 people have paid their respects before the Massachusetts senator's flag-draped coffin. |
| Private meeting | Private meeting |
| Among the guests attending Saturday's Roman Catholic Mass at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica are former Presidents George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, as well as some 80 serving and former senators. | Among the guests attending Saturday's Roman Catholic Mass at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica are former Presidents George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, as well as some 80 serving and former senators. |
| Death leaves no clear heir In pictures: Kennedy ceremonies | Death leaves no clear heir In pictures: Kennedy ceremonies |
| Dozens of Kennedy relatives are attending the service. | |
| A succession of nieces, nephews and grandsons delivered brief tributes to Senator Kennedy. | |
| While White House aides would not reveal the content of the US president's eulogy, Mr Obama was expected to focus on Mr Kennedy's 47-year political career. | While White House aides would not reveal the content of the US president's eulogy, Mr Obama was expected to focus on Mr Kennedy's 47-year political career. |
| Ahead of the service, family members had gathered for a brief prayer at the John F Kennedy library. | Ahead of the service, family members had gathered for a brief prayer at the John F Kennedy library. |
| KENNEDY FUNERAL PLANS (PROVISIONAL TIMES IN GMT) 1340: Procession from JFK Library1430: Funeral at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica1700: Procession to Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusets1800: Coffin arrives at Andrews Air Force Base2030: Motorcade stops at US Capitol for brief prayer2130: Burial service in Arlington National Cemetery | |
| Senator Kennedy's widow Vicki fought back tears as the coffin was then removed to be taken to the basilica. | Senator Kennedy's widow Vicki fought back tears as the coffin was then removed to be taken to the basilica. |
| At the basilica, the flag-draped coffin was then carried into the service by an honour guard of eight servicemen. | At the basilica, the flag-draped coffin was then carried into the service by an honour guard of eight servicemen. |
| The senator's funeral is being concelebrated by some seven priests. | The senator's funeral is being concelebrated by some seven priests. |
| Acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma has played at the funeral and famed tenor Placido Domingo is scheduled to sing. | |
| Members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra are also performing. | |
| Earlier, Mr Obama had held a private, 10-minute meeting with Vicki Kennedy. | |
| After the funeral, Mr Kennedy's body is to be flown to Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, before being driven past the US Capitol and along the National Mall for his burial in Arlington National Cemetery. | After the funeral, Mr Kennedy's body is to be flown to Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, before being driven past the US Capitol and along the National Mall for his burial in Arlington National Cemetery. |
| 'Thank you Teddy' | 'Thank you Teddy' |
| Three days of ceremonies to commemorate the senator's life began on Thursday with a private family Mass at the family property in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. | Three days of ceremonies to commemorate the senator's life began on Thursday with a private family Mass at the family property in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. |
| Guests including John McCain, Al Gore and Jack Nicholson arrive | Guests including John McCain, Al Gore and Jack Nicholson arrive |
| His body was then driven in a long procession to Boston along roads lined with thousands of mourners - some waving American flags, others holding up signs that read "Thank you Teddy". | His body was then driven in a long procession to Boston along roads lined with thousands of mourners - some waving American flags, others holding up signs that read "Thank you Teddy". |
| After the public paid their respects in Boston, a three-hour memorial service described as a "celebration of life" began at the JFK library on Friday evening. | After the public paid their respects in Boston, a three-hour memorial service described as a "celebration of life" began at the JFK library on Friday evening. |
| In keeping with the Kennedy family's Irish heritage, the service featured laughter and music, as well as tributes to the senator, who had long been the leader of one of America's great political dynasties. | In keeping with the Kennedy family's Irish heritage, the service featured laughter and music, as well as tributes to the senator, who had long been the leader of one of America's great political dynasties. |
| "Now Teddy has become a part of history, and we are the ones who will have to do all the things he would have done, for us, for each other and for our country," said his niece Caroline Kennedy, daughter of John. | "Now Teddy has become a part of history, and we are the ones who will have to do all the things he would have done, for us, for each other and for our country," said his niece Caroline Kennedy, daughter of John. |
| In the US, Mr Kennedy's death has been seen as the end of an era, following the assassinations of his brothers in 1963 and 1968. | In the US, Mr Kennedy's death has been seen as the end of an era, following the assassinations of his brothers in 1963 and 1968. |
| In a televised tribute on Wednesday, Mr Obama said Mr Kennedy had achieved "extraordinary good" and was "one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy". | In a televised tribute on Wednesday, Mr Obama said Mr Kennedy had achieved "extraordinary good" and was "one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy". |
| But others have noted that his legacy of public service was counter-balanced by heavy drinking in his early years - and the death of a female companion, Mary Jo Kopechne, in 1969 when he drove off a bridge at Chappaquiddick in Massachusetts and fled the scene. | But others have noted that his legacy of public service was counter-balanced by heavy drinking in his early years - and the death of a female companion, Mary Jo Kopechne, in 1969 when he drove off a bridge at Chappaquiddick in Massachusetts and fled the scene. |