Cheney leads Washington delegation at Thumond funeral

Vice President Dick Cheney delivers a eulogy during funeral services for former Sen. Strom Thurmond at First Baptist Church in Columbia. AP Photo/Tim Dominick e-mail this story to a friend Related Related stories: • Biden, Thurmond bridged philosophical divide to become friends • Funeral speakers were longtime allies • Vignettes: Tributes paid along funeral route • Thurmond remembered for tireless leadership Photo gallery • View a gallery of images from the funeral • View a gallery of images from Monday

Cheney delivered the administration's eulogy to Thurmond's 48 years of service.

"Strom Thurmond's name will live on in American history, and in the memory of all who were privileged to know him. We mourn his passing, but we take comfort in knowing that another chapter has just begun, and that this chapter will be far longer than the many days he spent on this Earth," Cheney said.

He lauded Thurmond's dedication to a strong military.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta represented the president's cabinet, and several senior members of the U.S. Senate accompanied the official party on a U.S. government plane that flew from Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington to Columbia Metropolitan Airport.

The Senate was represented by Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tennessee; Sen. George Allen, R-Virginia; Joe Biden, D-Delaware; Ted Stevens, R-Alaska; Ernest Hollings, D-South Carolina; Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, and Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican.

Former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole also accompanied the party, as well as wives of some other senators.

Shortly after 11 a.m., buses with senators and dignitaries from Washington arrived at the north side of the Statehouse and quickly went inside to visit Thurmond's family.

"I'm flattered that he asked me to help do his eulogy," Biden said.

Dole later stood atop the southside steps, occasionally waving to the crowd and chatting with officers.

The Washington party spent approximately 40 minutes with the Thurmond family at the Statehouse before departing by bus for First Baptist Church of Columbia on Hampton Street.

Immediately after the service ended at about 2:50 p.m., the senators left by bus for Columbia Airport to return to the nation's capital.

Most of the South Carolina General Assembly, constitutional officers, and former governors attended the funeral.

Former Govs. Robert McNair, Hollings, John West, Jim Edwards, Dick Riley, Carroll Campbell and Jim Hodges were at the funeral. Former Gov. David Beasley assisted with commentary on the funeral for a Columbia-area television station.

"I came back from the war with Sen. Thurmond, and served in government along with him," McNair said. "Though we traveled different paths in the 1960s, we never lost our friendship."