Washington National Cathedral has announced that it will host a funeral service for U.S. Senator Lindsey O. Graham on July 28 at 2 p.m. ET. According to the announcement, the service will be held by invitation only, while members of the public will be able to watch through an online livestream.
The Cathedral said the service will honor Senator Graham’s decades of public service in the United States Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, the South Carolina legislature, and the U.S. Air Force.
The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral, is scheduled to officiate the service. The Cathedral also announced that President Donald J. Trump is expected to deliver a tribute during the ceremony. Additional participants will be announced as more information becomes available.
Cathedral officials said the building has long served as a place where the nation gathers during significant moments of remembrance and reflection. They added that prayers remain with Senator Graham’s family during this difficult time.
Attendance at the service will be limited to invited guests. Security measures will be in place throughout the event. The Cathedral said the public will be able to follow the ceremony through a livestream on its official website and YouTube channel.
Media organizations wishing to cover the service must complete the Cathedral’s credential request process before the announced deadline. Officials said approved media will also have access to the official livestream and photographs released by the Cathedral.
According to the Cathedral, Senator Graham leaves behind more than four decades of public service at the state and national levels. His career included service as a South Carolina state representative, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and a U.S. senator representing South Carolina.
Before entering Congress, Graham built a military career as an attorney in the United States Air Force. He later continued serving in the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve before retiring in 2015 with the rank of colonel after more than 33 years of military service.
The Cathedral noted that Graham became the first member of his family to attend college. After losing both parents at a young age, he helped raise his younger sister while continuing his education.
Graham earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina before beginning his legal and political career.
He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, becoming the first Republican to represent South Carolina’s Third Congressional District in more than a century. In 2002, he was elected to the U.S. Senate and later won reelection in 2008, 2014, and 2020.
During his Senate career, Graham served in several leadership and committee positions. In the 119th Congress, he chaired the Senate Budget Committee while also serving on the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Throughout his years in public office, Graham became widely known for his work on national defense, foreign policy, fiscal issues, and judicial matters. He frequently traveled to meet with U.S. military personnel serving overseas and remained active in discussions involving national security.
Supporters often described him as a strong advocate for the armed forces and a supporter of military readiness. He also promoted government spending reforms, tax policy changes, and measures aimed at encouraging economic growth.
The Cathedral said the upcoming service will recognize Graham’s years of service in government and the military while providing an opportunity for invited guests and the public watching online to reflect on his contributions to the nation.
