Betty Ford in wheelchair for final burial.

[partylessinOhio]

Back at the Gerald Ford Museum for the burial on the hill, Betty Ford is sitting in a wheelchair and will be pushed to the plot.

Edit: Oh, wrong. Betty has insisted they remove the lap blanket and leave the chair behind. She was pulled to her feet by the General and a son. She is now walking behind the casket.

[WI_DEM]

1. Good, she is 88 and it's been a difficult week.

[displacedtexan]

2. How many days now of constant funeral?

Poor woman.

[MADem]

7. This is less than usual; and Jerry approved every aspect of it.

She knew, too--I'd wager she helped him line out some of the usual fussy items, like the caisson, riderless horse, backward boots, flyovers everywhere, and so forth. It has been a streamlined and tasteful series of remembrances. I do imagine she is about ready to go home and lay down for a bit...

[berner59]

8. aren't we in the 3rd week??

Why did Reagan's seem longer though?? This seems endless - this poor family...let them get a few days sleep now...

[Arkansas Granny]

9. All of these ceremonies must be placing an tremendous amount

of stress on her. No doubt, she will be glad when they are over and she can mourn out of the public eye. She's really a trooper.

[madmax]

14. I agree.

But, I'd bet she wouldn't have it any other way.

[hedda_foil]

3. Nope. She insisted on getting up and walking.behind the coffin.

One of the sons and a military officer helped her up and are on either side of her. It's a long, long walk and it's incredibly touching.

[MADem]

4. She's up on her pins, following the casket as I type. NT

[partylessinOhio]

5. This appears to be a long sidewalk and Betty is still going.

Now they have stopped for some reason and the choir is singing.

[partylessinOhio]

6. Betty has just made it to the gravesite and has sat down again on a regular chair.

[partylessinOhio]

10. Another 21 gun salute - this must be the sixth or seventh one.

There is supposed to be a multiple plane flyover yet.

[partylessinOhio]

11. Here it is now - 21 plane Air Force flyover.

[hedda_foil]

12. Watching this family ...

Susan and Betty are sharing a handkerchief and they are all holding each other. This isn't a show for them. They depth of their grief and loss is palpable.

[etherealtruth]

16. Whatever one might feel about the Ford presidency ...

They are a lovely family.

The class they showed (through their grief) by greeting public mourners and thanking them for their attendance speaks volumes about the type of people they are.

[Parche]

18. Steven Ford

Yes and he is 'Andy' on Young and the Restless!!!!!

The only soap I record and watch!!!

[Joanne98]

13. God. No wonder. They've dragged her around all week.

[durtee librul]

15. Well you can bet

Old fright white babs won't have this much of a turnout for her old man OR her son...course, she won't be around to see his, but ms. pickles will....

Jimmy Carter gave a nice eulogy - but then I never doubted he would as he is really a class act.

[NYC Liberal]

17. "she won't be around to see his" Don't be so sure.

With eveyrthing that's coming in the next 2 years (and 2 years is a LONG time) with Democrats controlling Congress and all of the investigations that are about to start, Chimpy may well drink himself to death pretty soon after he leaves office, just like his distant relative Franklin Pierce did.

(I'd argue that Babs is starting to decompose already, even now while she's still alive...)

[beaconess]

19. I don't think ANYONE drags Betty around

Even at 88 and obviously frail, she seems to be one tough customer. I wouldn't mess with her.

I'm sure that every second of these services was just as she and her husband planned them to be.

You GO, Betty.