Military honors opened the service. An armed forces honor guard carried the flag-draped casket down the cathedral’s central aisle, a ritual reserved for senior statesmen. The Gothic sanctuary, located several miles north of the White House, has hosted funerals for former presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush, reinforcing its role as a national venue for mourning. More on the cathedral’s history can be found through the Washington National Cathedral’s official website.
Cheney died on Nov. 3 at the age of 84 from complications related to pneumonia as well as cardiac and vascular disease. In a statement released soon after his death, the Cheney family said he instilled in his children and grandchildren a devotion to country and a commitment to courage, honor and service.
Across four decades in Washington, Cheney held several of the nation’s most powerful posts. After winning Wyoming’s at-large House seat in 1978, he served five terms in Congress and became House Republican Whip. President George H. W. Bush later appointed him secretary of defense, where he oversaw Operation Desert Storm in 1991. As vice president from 2001 to 2009, he was a central architect of the U.S. response to the Sept. 11 attacks, influencing policies on the global war on terror and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
His assertive approach made him both admired and criticized. Over the past decade, Cheney emerged as a vocal opponent of Donald Trump. He openly challenged Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election and, in 2024, endorsed Democratic nominee Kamala Harris over the Republican incumbent. At the time, Cheney argued that “there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.” Trump dismissed him as an “irrelevant RINO” and blamed him for what he called “endless wars.”
Imagem: Internet
The former president maintained silence following Cheney’s death. While the White House ordered flags lowered to half-staff, it issued no formal proclamation. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters only that Trump was “aware” of the passing.
Vice President Vance, speaking Thursday during a separate event, offered condolences despite what he termed “political disagreements,” acknowledging Cheney’s long record of public service and extending sympathy to the family.
Security at the cathedral was tight, with streets nearby closed to traffic and uniformed personnel stationed along the perimeter. Inside, the ceremony reflected Cheney’s ties to Wyoming and Washington alike. Floral arrangements in muted tones framed the pulpit, and the program incorporated hymns favored by the Cheney family alongside readings from the Old and New Testaments.
Following the service, Cheney will be interred at a private burial attended only by immediate relatives. Public commemorations will conclude later in the week when the family receives visitors at the U.S. Capitol for an afternoon of remembrance.
Crédito da imagem: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
