MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
They were showing her memorial service last night on CSpan, I was too sleepy to stay awake. Hopefully they might show it again
BY SUZETTE HACKNEY
DETROIT FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
October 31, 2005
WASHINGTON -- As the family and closest friends of Rosa Parks rode on a bus, weaving along South Capitol to Constitution Avenue in a police-led motorcade, they couldn't believe the masses of people who lined the streets Sunday, clapping, holding signs and candles.
The family was appreciative and overcome with emotion.
"Thank you, D.C.," they yelled out the window. "God bless you."
It was a surreal conclusion to a surreal 18 hours, which began when they landed at Dannelly Field in Montgomery, Ala., at noon Saturday and ended as they shook hands with President George W. Bush and wife, Laura, in the Capitol Rotunda on Sunday evening.
There was little sleep for the nearly 100 people who looped from Detroit to the South and then to the nation's capital on a Southwest Airlines 737 jet. And many said that Parks, who died Oct. 24 at age 92 in Detroit, would not have wanted all the attention.
"My family is really honored, and we are so proud to be related to someone who once again has made history," said Urana McCauley, 29, Parks' great-niece. "Auntie Rosa was so humble and would have said 'Don't do all this for me.' But honestly, I must say that she deserves this."
As their flight left Montgomery after a memorial service on Sunday, chief pilot Lou Freeman circled the southern city where Parks had made a choice to sit, not stand, a decision that changed history. The pilot said that he would dip the wings as a final farewell from Parks.
As the plane dipped dramatically, passengers applauded, including federal Appeals Court Judge Damon Keith, former Judge Adam Shakoor, Parks' longtime assistant Elaine Eason Steele, actress Cicely Tyson, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People president Bruce Gordon and dozens of family members.
Freeman touched down at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport around 5:45 p.m.
Flying Parks' body was an honor for Freeman, who rearranged his schedule to make the flights. As the first African-American chief pilot for any major commercial airline, Freeman wanted to say thanks to Parks for opening the door for him, too.
"Just to be able to participate in this is a great honor," said Freeman, 53. "When I received the phone call that said 'Lou, would you do this for us?' it really didn't take me but two seconds to say yes."
BY SUZETTE HACKNEY
DETROIT FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
October 31, 2005
WASHINGTON -- As the family and closest friends of Rosa Parks rode on a bus, weaving along South Capitol to Constitution Avenue in a police-led motorcade, they couldn't believe the masses of people who lined the streets Sunday, clapping, holding signs and candles.
The family was appreciative and overcome with emotion.
"Thank you, D.C.," they yelled out the window. "God bless you."
It was a surreal conclusion to a surreal 18 hours, which began when they landed at Dannelly Field in Montgomery, Ala., at noon Saturday and ended as they shook hands with President George W. Bush and wife, Laura, in the Capitol Rotunda on Sunday evening.
There was little sleep for the nearly 100 people who looped from Detroit to the South and then to the nation's capital on a Southwest Airlines 737 jet. And many said that Parks, who died Oct. 24 at age 92 in Detroit, would not have wanted all the attention.
"My family is really honored, and we are so proud to be related to someone who once again has made history," said Urana McCauley, 29, Parks' great-niece. "Auntie Rosa was so humble and would have said 'Don't do all this for me.' But honestly, I must say that she deserves this."
As their flight left Montgomery after a memorial service on Sunday, chief pilot Lou Freeman circled the southern city where Parks had made a choice to sit, not stand, a decision that changed history. The pilot said that he would dip the wings as a final farewell from Parks.
As the plane dipped dramatically, passengers applauded, including federal Appeals Court Judge Damon Keith, former Judge Adam Shakoor, Parks' longtime assistant Elaine Eason Steele, actress Cicely Tyson, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People president Bruce Gordon and dozens of family members.
Freeman touched down at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport around 5:45 p.m.
Flying Parks' body was an honor for Freeman, who rearranged his schedule to make the flights. As the first African-American chief pilot for any major commercial airline, Freeman wanted to say thanks to Parks for opening the door for him, too.
"Just to be able to participate in this is a great honor," said Freeman, 53. "When I received the phone call that said 'Lou, would you do this for us?' it really didn't take me but two seconds to say yes."