Friday, August 28, 2009

Another Sabbath Ceremony In Washington D.C. (This August)



Tomorrow Saturday, 29th of August, 2009, the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery near the tombs of his brothers John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. It is scheduled to be something resembling a state funeral with military honor guards, a televised funeral procession, and the religious ceremony before internment.





Kennedy will be buried near his assassinated brothers - former President
Kennedy and former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy - at Arlington National Cemetery
in northern Virginia.
The burial fulfills Ted Kennedy's final wishes
he made with his wife.
Those that knew him said the senator spent a
lot of time at Arlington National Cemetery, visiting fallen soldiers and his
two brothers.



http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0809/654021.html


Three weeks ago (21 days ago), tomorrow, The New York Judge Sonia Sotomayor, was sworn in as a Supreme Court Justice during a private special ceremony officiated by John Roberts, Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Sotomayor's swearing-in special service took place at 11 A.M., on Saturday, August 8, 2009.
Since the Senator passed away late Tuesday night, or early Wednesday morning it has been a steady stream of internet, and radio coverage. People from reporters, to commentators, to politicians on both sides of the "imaginary" bi-partisan divide have praised and lauded "Ted's" long career as a freedom fighter, and a man of the people. It's been a non-stop homage event.

Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, a longtime civil rights leader, praised Kennedy for his massive contributions to the cause of equal rights. "He's one man that changed America forever," Lewis said. "He made America a better place. ... Sen. Kennedy was our champion. He was our leader. He was our shepherd. Without him, we must regroup."

"The last year of his life was almost a gift, because he knew that he didn't have much time, but he was able to kind of take a victory lap," says Robert Kennedy Jr. "He was able to accept a lot of the tributes that were offered to him in the last year, and that was really touching to him."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112326476&ps=cprs


This is indeed a solemn time for the relatives, and those who were close to "Ted" Kennedy;
But, frankly, I detect a tinge of theatrics with all the ceremonies and patronage.
Why do they always wait for a person to pass away to say so many good things about them?

We also remember that another Kennedy passed away just a few weeks ago. Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver died August 11, 2009, at age 88. Two weeks later, her brother Edward Kennedy, passed away on August 25, 2009 at age 77.

Please, no more Camelot allusions! We have no royalty in the Western Hemisphere.*

We are all destined to die, sooner or later. They say that death is the great equalizer; No kings, no Princesses, we are all equally dead.

Again, back to the Sabbath Burial Services scheduled to span the whole day beginning in Boston, where they will have a Mass at a Basilica, then transport the remains of Senator Edward M. Kennedy to Washington D.C. for a full-fledged military burial at sunset.

My condolences to the loved ones. My sympathies in your loss.

And, to the faithful remnant a Blessed Happy Sabbath!

Arsenio.
.
.
*P.S. (Addendum) However, there is a considerable amount of knights; Such as Knights of Columbus, Knights of Malta, Knights of Eulogia, etc.