Bob Dole laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery

Senator Bob Dole's historic service to our nation was reflected with a series of honors during his burial ceremony. The Senator's casket was carried by a horse-drawn caisson that served as a military wagon during the Civil War. A military band and two marching platoons served as escorts. During the service, seven riflemen fired a three rifle volley. Solemnly, a bugler played Taps. — Senator Bob Dole's historic service to our nation was reflected with a series of honors during his burial ceremony. The Senator's casket was carried by a horse-drawn caisson that served as a military wagon during the Civil War. A military band and two marching platoons served as escorts. During the service, seven riflemen fired a three rifle volley. Solemnly, a bugler played Taps.

WASHINGTON —Senator Bob Dole was laid to rest in a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery Wednesday afternoon..

“God took the initiative on this Kansas athlete doing his thing. A God so wise, he knew what was best for Bob. A God so powerful he could do what was best for Bob. What a life.” - Rear Admiral Barry C. Black, Chaplain, U.S. Senate -photo Dole Foundation

At the invitation of Senator Elizabeth Dole, Governor Laura Kelly attended the memorial and graveside services. The private memorial service was held at Memorial Chapel at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Fort Myer, Virginia. Graveside services followed at Arlington National Cemetery.

Memorial Chapel at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Fort Myer-photo Elizabeth Dole Foundation

Dole, who died December 5 at age 98, was wounded during World War II, served nearly 36 years in Congress and was GOP Senate leader for more than a decade. In February 2021, he announced he’d been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.

Dole lay in state at the U.S. Capitol, as President Biden and others gathered to pay tribute to an “American giant” who served the country in war and in politics.

He was honored December 10, during a service at Washington National Cathedral as a senator who could practice bare-knuckle partisan politics without losing civility and as a patriot whose grit overcame serious wounds from combat in World War II in Italy in 1945.

Service for Dole at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell  - photo by James Bell — Service for Dole at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell - photo by James Bell

Another tribute for Dole followed at the World War II Memorial in Washington — a monument to Dole’s generation that he worked to get built. Among the speakers was actor Tom Hanks.

Dole's casket arriving at the airport in Salina photo by Leslie Eikleberry

Dole's casket was then flown to Salina and transported west to his boyhood hometown of Russell for a service at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.

Then a final service was held in the state capital of Topeka, where Dole briefly served in the Kansas House in the 1950s. The list of speakers was bipartisan, including Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas’ two Republican U.S. senators, Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report