Clinton, Gore attend Carnahan memorial

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al
Gore headlined a memorial service here for Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan,
killed in a plane crash earlier this week along with his pilot son and a
longtime aide.

Gov. Mel Carnahan

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The procession began at 11 a.m. local time at the governor's mansion
in Jefferson City, just east of the Capitol building, where Carnahan's
casket was carried in by a military honor guard on Wednesday.

About 7,500 grieving Missourians and dignitaries gathered for the
services, held in front of the Capitol. Officials said about 8,000
mourners filed past Carnahan's casket to pay their final respects during
visitation services at the Governor's Mansion that began Thursday.

The casket containing Gov. Mel Carnahan's remains is carried into a viewing room in the governor's mansion on Wednesday by a military honor guard.

From the mansion, the procession wound its way around the north side
of the Capitol, passing beneath the windows of the office Carnahan, who
was 66, used for nearly eight years in his two terms as governor. At
the time of his death -- and the deaths of his son and pilot, Roger, and
longtime aide Chris Sifford -- Carnahan was involved in a tight race for
the U.S. Senate with incumbent Republican Sen. John Ashcroft.

As the procession moved to the south side of the Capitol, Clinton
took up the lead with Jean Carnahan, the late governor's wife, and the
Carnahan family. Joining the president were first lady Hillary Clinton,
Gore and his wife, Tipper, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle,
D-S.D., House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, and former Lt. governor
and now Missouri's 52nd governor, Roger B. Wilson.

Missouri Lt. Gov. Roger B. Wilson was sworn in as the state's 52nd governor earlier this week.

Also attending were Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., as well as Missouri's
U.S. Senate delegation, Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond and Ashcroft, both
Republicans, and other congressional members. "They're here today to
honor a man who hoped to join them," said

MissouriNet News anchor Bob Priddy.

Early in the services, a string ensemble played as the casket -- solid cherry with a simple plaque that said, "Gov. Mel Carnahan, 1934-2000," and draped with an American flag -- was carried out by military escorts. Carnahan, who as governor was commander in chief of Missouri Guard forces, had also been a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

The opening prayer was given by the Rev. Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City.

"We have not come here today to bury our leader," he said, "but to remember him. We have not come here today to canonize our governor, but to rededicate ourselves to state-building."

Remembrances were given by the Rev. E. Gene Rooney of the First Methodist Church of Jefferson City, former U.S. Sen. Thomas Eagleton, Missouri Supreme Court Justice Michael A. Wolff, Gov. Roger Wilson and President Clinton.

Four horses pulled the caisson carrying the governor's casket -- followed by a single Missouri Guard soldier who led a black, riderless horse with a saddle and boots reversed in the stirrups, which symbolized the warrior who will never ride again.

Political allies and rivals alike shared in the grieving over the loss of Carnahan. "We are shocked and saddened at the deaths of Gov. Carnahan, his son Randy and Chris Sifford. This is a time for prayer," said Ann Wagner, chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, in a written statement.

Clinton, who flew in about 9:30 a.m. and left around 2:00 p.m., said he, Hillary, and Mr. and Mrs. Gore were "profoundly honored" to eulogize on behalf of Carnahan and called him a "friend and partner." "I think he rather enjoyed being underestimated by people who disagreed with him," Clinton said. "I am grateful that I knew Mel Carnahan. ... I am grateful that we had this chance to work together. He left us too early but he had a great ride.

"I think we should remember him with this admonition of St. Paul's to the Galatians: 'While we have time, let us do good,'" Clinton said. "We'll miss you, Mel. We'll try to take up the slack. But we'll not have another one like you."

The service ended with a choir singing "Battle Hymn of the Republic," followed by the firing of artillery -- the booming sounds bouncing off the Capitol like thunder.

Following the artillery salute overhead came the lonely sound of taps being played by a sole military bugler. Then, a flight of four Missouri Air Guard F-15s, which flew in the "missing man" or "V" formation. One of the jets peeled off the formation, leaving an empty space as the formation roared above the Capitol building, perfectly on cue.

The late governor, a lawyer, began his political career at the age of 26, following in his father's footsteps when he was elected a municipal judge in his hometown of Rolla. He then served a leadership role in the Missouri House before returning to his private law practice in the late 1970s.

In 1980, he was elected as state treasurer and, eight years later, to lieutenant governor. In 1992, Carnahan was elected Missouri's 51st governor.

"I want to give people proof that altogether we have the vision and the resources to make Missouri a great place for our children and grandchildren to live, and to raise families of their own," Carnahan said during his first inaugural speech. "In short, a place where no one wants to leave."

Carnahan is only the fifth Missouri governor to die while in office. The last was Gov. John S. Marmaduke in 1887.

Carnahan will be buried in Rolla -- about 60 miles southeast of Jefferson City -- on Saturday. He is survived by his wife, Jean, two sons -- Russ and Tom -- and one daughter, Robin Carnahan.