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Jack Kemp’s Funeral

May 8, 2009 by Robert Nedelkoff | Filed Under American Politics, Congress, Episcopal Church, In Memoriam, Nixon Administration figures, Republican Party, U.S. History 

This afternoon, at a packed Washington National Cathedral, the funeral of all-star AFL quarterback, longtime New York congressman, 1996 Republican vice-presidential candidate, and dedicated economic and social trailblazer Jack Kemp was held. Originally it was planned for his own Presbyterian church, but when it became clear that many more wished to attend the service than that building could hold, it was moved to the structure sometimes called “America’s church.”

And, as was to be expected, this was a quintessentially American service in its inclusiveness; Mary Kate Cary at US News And World Report’s website reports that it attracted “the most diverse crowd I’ve ever seen at a Washington funeral.” An Episcopal priest conducted a Presbyterian service; the Howard University choir sang; and many yarmulkes were seen among those assembled. All races and walks of life were represented: blue-collar workers joined Senators, liberals joined libertarians.

Ms. Cary reports that the most memorable eulogy was delivered by former Nixon White House chief counsel Chuck Colson, who eloquently observed that “Jack Kemp was indomitable as few of us are.”

Indeed, we would be blessed as a nation if our current crop of leaders had more of Kemp’s blend of indomitability, compassion and vision.



Comments

2 Responses to “Jack Kemp’s Funeral”

  1. Raymond Schultz on May 8th, 2009 9:45 pm

    Thank you for sharing this Robert.

    From the http://nationalcathedral.org site, a few words from the official memorial service:

    “Te builder lifted his old gray head:
    “Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,
    “Tere followeth after me today,
    A youth, whose feet must pass this way.
    Tis chasm, that has been naught to me,
    To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
    He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
    Good friend, I am building this bridge for him.”
    Will Allen Dromgoole (1860–1934)”

    Jack Kemp was a builder of honesty. His strong family and our strong Nation shall continue to cross this growing bridge.

  2. Gloria A. Rochelle on May 15th, 2009 8:52 pm

    I Watched the memorial service of Senator Jack Kemp and was very moved spiritually. He was always for the under-dog and the oppressed group. May God bless and strengthen his family. I was always moved by his caring and compassionate spirit. He will be truly missed. I am an African American, grew up in the south,daughter of a sharecropper,greatgranddaughter of a slaves, came through the Civil Rights Struggle,could not find a decent job until many years afterwaards but, through it all I have learned to trust in Jesus and I have learned to trust in God.

    I felt that there was some who cares about the under-dog and Senator Jack Kemp did. He was always concern about the Criminal Justice System how unfair it was. I always said that,there is something about this man that is special. The Spirit of the Lord was in him. He loved God and loved his neighbors.
    He will be truly missed, but I will get to meet him one day.

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