WASHINGTON - The limousine bearing the remains of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy stopped in Washington near the steps of the Senate where thousands of people gathered to pay a final tribute.

At least 1,000 current or former congressional staffers gathered to honor the late senator. More than half of them are current and former Kennedy staffers. Several senators were in the crowd, among them Democrat Robert Byrd of West Virginia, the longest serving senator in history.

Nearby, another thousands more well-wishers stood on the Capitol lawn under shade trees or umbrellas.

"He wasn't just you know this Kennedy icon, he actually cared," said D.C. resident Kathy O'Rourke. She was among those waiting four hours in the late August heat hoping for a glimpse of the late senator's funeral procession. "I don't think we we will ever see another family like this...when you think of JFK, RFK and now Teddy- it's just amazing."

Carly Steiner, an intern with the Kennedy office in 2007, says the senator was always approachable. "I remember comparing notes after a Patriots game...he was so nice and wonderful and it is going to be a big loss," she said.

Still, many who gathered had never met the senator but were drawn to the event by a sense of history - a final farewell to a third Kennedy brother.

"Very fitting that he would kind of travel that path as brothers who made their own history, their own mark in American," said Marlon Brown, D.C. resident.

Kennedy's remains were brought to Washington after his funeral in Boston, and he will be buried Saturday night near his brothers John and Robert in Arlington National Cemetery. The motorcade remained at the Capitol steps for about 20 minutes where there was a series of prayers and a group singing of "America the Beautiful."

Hundreds also gathered outside Arlington National Cemetery along Memorial Drive to pay their respects and be a part of history. The burial fulfills Sen. Kennedy's final wishes he made with his wife sometime ago. The senator spent a lot of time visiting at the cemetery, visiting fallen soldiers and his brothers.

"I am here out of respect and I am here to say thank you to a family who has shown us how to grieve, a family who has shown us how to live life to to the fullest, a family who has shown us how to give back, and I think the least I could do is give up my time because they have given up their lives..." said Barbara Anderson, Maryland resident.

The section of the cemetery that holds the Kennedy grave sites is closed to the public and will reopen Sunday morning. The rest of the cemetery will not be closed.

 

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