Obituaries
Biden, Bush, Obama Join Dignitaries At Colin Powell Rites: Photos
Past presidents, other political dignitaries attend the funeral service of former Joint Chiefs Chairman and Secretary of State Colin Powell.
WASHINGTON, DC —Former presidents, dignitaries and others paid their final respects Friday to Colin Powell, who broke color barriers when he became the first Black — and the youngest — chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and later the first Black secretary of state.
Powell died Oct. 18 of complications of COVID-19 his family said in an announcement on social media. He was fully vaccinated against coronavirus, they said.
Friday's funeral at Washington National Cathedral saw a range of notable faces from across a wide political and military spectrum. Among those in attendance was President Joe Biden, who was joined by former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush.
Two other former secretaries of state, James Baker and Condoleezza Rice, attended, along with former Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the current Joint Chiefs chairma, Army Gen. Mark Milley.
Madeleine Albright and Richard Armitage eulogized Powell as the U.S. Army Brass Quintet played a range of tunes, including “Dancing Queen” by Abba, a favorite of Powell's, The Associated Press reported.
In this Nov. 30, 2006 file photo, former Secretary of State Colin Powell looks on during a ceremony for the Alexis de Tocqueville prize, a French literary award, in Tocqueville, east of Cherbourg, western France.
The flag-draped casket of former Secretary of State Colin Powell arrives Friday at the Washington National Cathedral for a funeral service in Washington, D.C.
Members of a U.S. Armed Services honor guard stand at attention Friday as they prepare to carry Colin Powell's flag-draped casket into the Washington National Cathedral.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive and greet from left, former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton before the funeral.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greets former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton greet one another at the service.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden talk with former President Barack Obama before the funeral.
President Joe Biden stands with other attendees during the service for former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Former President Barack Obama hugs first lady Jill Biden.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright walks by the casket of former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Michael Powell touches the casket of his father during the funeral.
Alma Powell, the former Joint Chiefs chairman and secretary of state's widow, is escorted to her seat by U.S. Army Major Gen. Allan Pepin, commanding officer of the Joint Force Headquarters National Capitol Region.
Former President Barack Obama talks with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden watch the casket during a funeral for former Secretary of State Colin Powell. To the right are former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama.
The Washington National Cathedral is seen at dawn before the funeral.
In this Sept. 25, 1991, file photo, Gen. Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks at a House Armed Services subcommittee meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
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