US sets state funeral, day of mourning for Jimmy Carter

Memorial services for former US President Jimmy Carter are expected to take place over six days in Georgia and Washington, DC, after he died Dec. 29 at the age of 100.

Here are some details on his funeral plans:

When is the funeral?

Carter's state funeral, a national tribute traditionally reserved for heads of state, begins Saturday with ceremonies in Carter's home state of Georgia, according to a schedule released by the US military.

Major moments

A motorcade will take Carter through his hometown of Plains, Georgia, and to Atlanta, with stops at the state capitol and then the Carter Presidential Center, where he will lie in repose until being flown to Washington on Tuesday.

In Washington, he will lie in state in the Rotunda of the US Capitol. George HW Bush was the last US president to lie there, a tradition dating back to Abraham Lincoln.

Members of Congress will pay their respects to Carter beginning at 3 pm ET (2000 GMT) on Tuesday, with the public invited from 7 pm to midnight on Tuesday, and again on Wednesday from 7 am.

A funeral service will be held at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday at 10 am ET (1500 GMT), after which Carter's body will be flown back to Georgia for a private burial.

President Joe Biden last year said Carter asked him to deliver the eulogy at the service. President-elect Donald Trump has said he will attend as well.

Afterwards, Carter will be flown back to Georgia and buried in a private ceremony in his hometown of Plains.

Public observances

Biden declared a national day of mourning on Jan 9. He ordered US flags to be flown at half-staff for 30 days at military posts and on federal buildings.

Rather than flowers, Carter's family asked for donations to his namesake Atlanta-based center to help its work in global health, peace, and human rights.

The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will close on Thursday, a customary gesture to honor deceased presidents.