Does Singapore have any better place for Goh Keng Swee's state funeral?
Victoria Memorial Hall? Old City Hall before Padang? Old Parliament?
Which country used their own Parliament House as a Funeral Home? So FIRST WORLD?
Uniquely Singapore!
MONGREL who bit his masters' hands LOUDHAILER chee soon juan, have some respect for the dead!!
Using state buildings is nothing new. Check out Ronald Reagan's funeral.
Funeral procession
Events in the capital began when Reagan's casket arrived at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. It was removed from the plane, driven by hearse in a procession through the Maryland and Virginia suburbs and the nation's capital, across the Memorial Bridge, and onto Constitution Avenue.[20]
Just before the plane arrived at Andrews, the Capitol was evacuated for a brief period, for a plane carrying Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher was off course and created a scare by entering restricted airspace; the incident was attributed to radio problems onboard the plane and did not affect funeral events.[21]
Near the Ellipse, and within sight of the White House, the hearse halted and Reagan's body was transferred to a horse-drawn caisson for the procession down Constitution Avenue to Capitol Hill.[20] Nancy Reagan stepped out of her limousine to witness the body's transfer; she was met with a warm greeting, including applause.[20] The cortege began the 45 minute journey just after 6:00 PM EST, with the Reagan family following in limousines.[20] Military units escorted the caisson as it made its way to the sounds of muffled drums. Behind the caisson was a riderless horse named Sergeant York, carrying Reagan's riding boots reversed in the stirrups.[22] The caisson paused at 4th street and Constitution Avenue, where 21 Air Force F-15s flew over in missing man formation.
[edit]Capitol Hill
The caisson stopped when it arrived at Capitol Hill; military units removed it, and Hail to the Chief was played amidst a 21-gun salute.[23][24] The casket was carried up the west front steps of the Capitol, mainly because Reagan was first inaugurated there and he wanted to face west, toward California.[24] Two teams of military body bearers carried the coffin up the steps of the Capitol to Battle Hymn of the Republic.[23][24]
When the casket reached the top of the steps, Nancy Reagan and her military escort met it. As the casket passed them, Mrs. Reagan momentarily pulled away from her escort, reached out, and touched the casket.[24] They followed it inside to the rotunda.
The casket was placed under the rotunda, where it lay in state on Abraham Lincoln's catafalque.[25] An evening memorial service then took place, with dignitaries primarily composed of Congressional members, members of the United States Supreme Court, and the diplomatic corps;[26] the Reverend Daniel Coughlin, Chaplain of the House of Representatives, gave the invocation.[27] Eulogies were then delivered by Senate President pro tempore Ted Stevens, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, and Vice President Dick Cheney.[27]
After the eulogies, the three speakers each laid a wreath at the casket, and Senate Chaplain, the Reverend Barry Black, gave the benediction.[27] Cheney escorted Mrs. Reagan to the casket, where she said her goodbyes.[27] The dignitaries in the room paid their respects during the next half hour. In a rare instance, the doors of the Capitol were then opened to the public, who stood in lines stretching many blocks to view the casket.[25]
