Below are answers to frequently asked questions regarding the funeral services for President Ford. More information will be added as it becomes available. If you do not see your question below, please e-mail the Library's reference staff.

1. How can I send condolences to the Ford family?

Condolences to the Ford family can be sent to the office of President Ford at: P.O. Box 927, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

Condolences and condolence books can also be mailed the Gerald R. Ford Library at 1000 Beal Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 or the Gerald R. Ford Museum at 303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.

2. Where can I find the eulogies given during the funeral services for President Ford?

Eulogies delivered at the funeral services for President Ford have been posted to the Library’s website and can be viewed here.

3. Where can I find information regarding the funeral services (e.g. performers, speakers, passages read, songs that were sung)?

Order of ceremony at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda

Order of ceremony at the National Cathedral

Order of the arrival ceremony at the Gerald R. Ford Museum, Grand Rapids, MI

Order of the funeral services at Grace Episcopal Church, Grand Rapids, MI

4. Who served as honorary pallbearers for the funeral services in both Washington, D.C. and in Grand Rapids, MI?

Pallbearers for the services in Washington, D.C.

Pallbearers for the services in Grand Rapids, MI

5. Where can I find information about the military's role in presidential funeral planning, the names of the military personnel and/or information about the service branches that participated in the funeral?

Presidential funerals are planned in cooperation with the Military District of Washington. More information about their role in Presidential funerals is available through the Military District of Washington's Public Affairs Office. They can be contacted at (202) 685-4644; or visit their website at: http://www.mdw.army.mil/

6. How can I get a condolence card?

Tribute cards from the services in Washington, D.C. will be available for purchase through the Ford Museum Gift Store. For more information please contact the Gift Store at 616-254-0368 or via e-mail at ford.museum@nara.gov

In addition, funeral programs from services at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. can be ordered online here

7. Will a DVD of the funeral services be available to the public?

The C-Span DVD showing highlights of the funeral services is available for purchase at the Museum's Gift Store and online at the National Archives e-store for $24.95.

Also available is the WOOD-TV DVD "Gerald R. Ford: A Final Farewell" for $17.95 at the Museum Gift Store.

For more information please contact the Gift Store at 616-254-0368 or via e-mail at ford.museum@nara.gov

8. Can you tell me how many people paid their respects to President Ford during the funeral services?

Nearly 50,000 people signed the Condolence Books on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids and Library in Ann Arbor beginning at 1:30 AM on Wednesday, December 27, 2006, through 5:00 PM Thursday, January 4, 2007. 

An estimated 36,000 visited the U.S. Capital Rotunda as President Ford lay in State.

As President Ford lay in repose at the Museum, Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning, some 62,000 people paid their respects, including the estimated 57,000 people who entered the queue through DeVos Place and waited patiently in line.

In addition, an estimated 75,000 people lined the streets of Grand Rapids to welcome President Ford home on January 2, 2007 and during the funeral services on January 3, 2007.

9. How do I obtain a copy of the 56 page special edition of the Grand Rapids Press that covers funeral events?

A copy of the special edition can be purchased at the Museum's Gift Store.

For more information please contact the Gift Store at 616-254-0368 or via e-mail at ford.museum@nara.gov

10. When was the conclusion of the official period of mourning for President Ford?

The official period of mourning ended at sundown on Thursday January 25, 2007. At this time flags were to be returned to full staff.

Pictures of the ceremony held at the Ford Museum in Grand Rapids that marked the end of the mourning period, are available on our website here.



Last Updated: April 26, 2007