Cathedral to Host Funeral Service of Former Sen. John Warner
WASHINGTON – The funeral of former U.S. Sen. John Warner will be held at Washington National Cathedral on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 beginning at 11 a.m. ET. Sen. Warner, who represented Virginia from 1979 through 2009, was also Secretary of the Navy in the Nixon Administration. Numerous Virginia, military and Congressional leaders are expected to be in attendance. Sen. Warner died of natural causes at his home in Alexandria, Va. on May 25, 2021, and will be eulogized by Sens. Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and Admiral Michael Mullen at the service.
“In life, Sen. Warner served his faith and his country in many capacities: first as a service member in uniform and later as a career public servant who made it a point to reach out to others across the aisle,” said The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of Washington National Cathedral. “We are especially saddened by his loss as one of our own from the Cathedral Close; beginning his education as a student at St. Albans, Sen. Warner was and forever will be a member of the Cathedral community. He will be missed dearly, by us and by all.”
Born in 1927, Sen. Warner was baptized at Washington National Cathedral. For a time, he attended St. Albans School, which is affiliated with the National Cathedral and located on the Cathedral Close. At age 17, he enlisted in the Navy and served in World War II, and he later joined the Marine Corps as an officer in the Korean War. He clerked for a federal judge and worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney before joining the law firm of Hogan and Hartson, now Hogan Lovells, a firm he returned to after his career in the Senate. Sen. Warner was also married to his wife Jeanne at the National Cathedral.
He served as Under Secretary and Secretary of the Navy before being selected to oversee the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, celebrating the 200th anniversary of our nation. Elected to the Senate in 1978, Sen. Warner represented Virginia with great distinction for five terms, making him the second-longest-serving senator in the history of Virginia. His tenure was marked by his leadership as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and landmark public works and environmental legislation. Mentoring future leaders was an important hallmark of his life, and the Senate honored him with the passage of a Senate Resolution commemorating his life following his passing.
“Mrs. Warner and the entire Warner family, as well as so many who knew and worked with him, are grateful for the heartfelt tributes and remembrances” said Susan Magill, the Senator’s longtime Chief of Staff. “Sen. Warner always told us to keep it simple – defend the Constitution, the rule of law, and
serve our beloved Virginia, and the nation. The extraordinary outpouring of respect for him and his work shows us how much character, courage and integrity are valued. I am confident his exemplary life of public service and joyful embrace of family and friends will continue to inspire others.”
While the Cathedral remains closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions, it is currently in the process of re-opening for some worship services. The funeral of Sen. Warner will not be open to the public, and only those with tickets will be authorized to attend. All safety measures will be followed to ensure the health of the staff and guests in attendance. Members of the press must fill out the form at this link to request press credentials in order to be considered for access to the funeral service.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
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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.