Cathedral to Host Funeral Service for Senator Lindsey O. Graham
Washington National Cathedral will host a funeral service for U.S. Senator Lindsey O. Graham on July 28 at 2 pm ET.
Senator Graham leaves behind a lifetime of public service that made a remarkable impact on U.S. foreign, fiscal, and legal policy and on the federal judiciary. First in his family to attend college, Senator Graham raised his younger sister after they lost their parents at a young age. Senator Graham went on to serve his home state of South Carolina and country in various roles for over 40 years, including as a South Carolina state representative; a U.S. House member; and a U.S. Senator. Senator Graham also served in active duty in the U.S. Air Force followed by more than 33 years in the reserves as a military lawyer, retiring as a colonel in 2015.
“The Cathedral is proud to serve as a sacred space where people gather during times of both celebration and sorrow. We believe that God is present with us in all of life’s moments,” said The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of the Cathedral. “Our prayers are with Senator Graham’s family at this difficult time.”
Dean Hollerith will officiate the service. President Donald J. Trump will deliver a tribute. Other participants will be updated on the service page as that information becomes available.
Attendance and Livestream
Attending the service is by invitation only and not open to the public. Security measures will be in place to ensure the safety and health of the staff and guests in attendance. The public is invited to watch the service on the Cathedral’s website or YouTube channel.
Media Credentials
Media credentialing is now closed. All media wanting access to cover the service must complete the Cathedral’s Press Credentials Request Form. All requests for credentials are due by Wednesday, July 22, at 5 pm ET, and determinations for these requests will be made on Friday, July 24. The Cathedral will provide a livestream and still photography, which all media are free to use with credit to Washington National Cathedral.
About Lindsey O. Graham
Lindsey Graham earned a reputation as a conservative problem-solver and one of the strongest proponents of a robust national defense.
A frequent visitor to American troops stationed overseas for on-the-ground assessments, Graham consistently pushed for outcomes in the War on Terror that protect our long-term national security interests. One leading conservative wrote that when it comes to defending America, “[Lindsey] Graham has been right about more things on foreign policy for longer than just about anyone…if anyone has bragging rights on foreign policy, it is Graham.”
Graham was also a leader in cutting spending, reforming entitlements, and getting government out of the way so businesses can create jobs. One national conservative organization called him a Taxpayer Hero who put “the interests of the taxpayer ahead of politics by consistently voting to cut wasteful spending, reduce the tax burden, and make government more accountable to taxpayers.”
Graham was elected to the United States Senate in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008, 2014, and 2020. He became the first person in South Carolina history to garner over one million votes in the 2008 general election.
During the 119th Congress, Graham served as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. Graham also served as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Prior to serving in the Senate, Graham was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 as the first Republican from the Third Congressional District of South Carolina since 1877.
Before being elected to Congress, Graham compiled a distinguished record in the United States Air Force as he logged six-and-a-half years of service on active duty as an Air Force lawyer. From 1984-1988, he was assigned overseas and served at Rhein-Main Air Force Base in Germany. Upon leaving active duty Air Force in 1989, Graham joined the South Carolina Air National Guard where he served until 1995. During the first Gulf War in the early 90’s, Graham was called to active duty and served state-side at McEntire Air National Guard Base as Staff Judge Advocate where he prepared members for deployment to the Gulf region.
In 1995, Graham joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves. During American military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Graham put his experience in military law to use pulling numerous short-term Reserve duties in both countries over congressional breaks and holidays.
Graham retired from the Air Force Reserves in June 2015 having served his country in uniform for 33 years. He retired at the rank of Colonel.
A native South Carolinian, Graham grew up in a blue collar family in the small town of Central where his parents ran a restaurant and pool hall. The first member of his family to go to college, Graham earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina. He lived in Seneca and was a member of Corinth Baptist Church.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Washington National Cathedral Public Affairs Team
(202) 699-0829
[email protected]
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About Washington National Cathedral
Grounded in the reconciling love of Jesus Christ, Washington National Cathedral is a house of prayer for all people, conceived by our founders to serve as a great church for national purposes.