DEATH OF GENERAL MAC
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) ) On April 5, 1964, Douglas MacArthur* died at the age of 84. The Five Star General passed away at Walter Reed Hospital here in the Nation's Capital.
President John F. Kennedy had pre-authorized a State Funeral and President Lyndon B. Johnson confirmed that action by ordering the General to be buried "with all the honor a grateful nation can bestow on a departed hero."
The General had also requested a week-long state funeral including his body lying in state at the 7th Regimental Armory in New York City, the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, Virginia and at the Capitol in Washington.
62,000 people passed by the General's casket in the rotunda of the MacArthur Memorial which would also be his final resting place. Attending services for President Johnson were the Attorney-General and his wife, Mr. & Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy.
On March 12, 1962, Douglas MacArthur gave his acceptance speech for the Sylvanus Thayer Award to the cadets of West Point. The General said...
"Duty, Honor Country: Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be."
*Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) was born in Little Rock, Arkansas & graduated 1st in his class from the United States Military Academy in 1903. DM won 4 Silver Stars in WWI & the Distinguished Service Cross.
DM fought in both world wars & was commander of Allied forces in the Pacific during WWII. He commanded UN forces during the Korean Conflict.
SOURCES
"Douglas MacArthur", Biography, www.biography.com/
"General Douglas MacArthur, Sylvanus Thayer Award Acceptance Address," www.americanrhetoric.com/
"The Last Salute: Civil and Military Funerals 1921-1969," www.history.army.mil/
MacArthur Memorial
Norfolk, Virginia
Photo by John White (2001)
MacArthur Memorial
Norfolk, Virginia
Photo by John White (2001)
President John F. Kennedy had pre-authorized a State Funeral and President Lyndon B. Johnson confirmed that action by ordering the General to be buried "with all the honor a grateful nation can bestow on a departed hero."
The General had also requested a week-long state funeral including his body lying in state at the 7th Regimental Armory in New York City, the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, Virginia and at the Capitol in Washington.
62,000 people passed by the General's casket in the rotunda of the MacArthur Memorial which would also be his final resting place. Attending services for President Johnson were the Attorney-General and his wife, Mr. & Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy.
On March 12, 1962, Douglas MacArthur gave his acceptance speech for the Sylvanus Thayer Award to the cadets of West Point. The General said...
"Duty, Honor Country: Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be."
*Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) was born in Little Rock, Arkansas & graduated 1st in his class from the United States Military Academy in 1903. DM won 4 Silver Stars in WWI & the Distinguished Service Cross.
DM fought in both world wars & was commander of Allied forces in the Pacific during WWII. He commanded UN forces during the Korean Conflict.
SOURCES
"Douglas MacArthur", Biography, www.biography.com/
"General Douglas MacArthur, Sylvanus Thayer Award Acceptance Address," www.americanrhetoric.com/
"The Last Salute: Civil and Military Funerals 1921-1969," www.history.army.mil/
MacArthur Memorial
Norfolk, Virginia
Photo by John White (2001)
MacArthur Memorial
Norfolk, Virginia
Photo by John White (2001)
