Kennedy Memorial Service In Boston: VIDEO Highlights

The private memorial service for Ted Kennedy at the JFK library in Boston Friday night drew many luminaries from the political world such as Vice President Joe Biden and Senators John McCain and John Kerry, as well as family members such as Joseph Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy. It was a night full of laughter as well as sadness, as friends and family celebrated the larger than life senator from Massachusetts with speeches and music. Read the whole story from the AP. Some of the highlights are below.

Family friend and former top Kennedy staffer Nick Littlefield sang one of Kennedy's favorite songs as a tribute.

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John McCain called Kennedy "the best ally you could have" and said he had the "Irish talent for storytelling and friendship."

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Sen. Orrin Hatch gave a long, moving speech about his 30-year friendship with Kennedy, proclaiming that he "loved every minute." Hatch ended by reading a poem he had written about Kennedy, which concluded with "I will miss my Irish friend/God be with you 'till we meet again."

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Former Iowa Senator John Culver, a classmate of Kennedy's at Harvard, told an amusing tale about the time he joined Kennedy in a sailboat race.

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Joe Biden, who delivered an emotional tribute to Kennedy on Wednesday, again spoke movingly of his admiration for his former Senate colleague, who he said was like a "big brother" to him.

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The evening ended with Caroline Kennedy, who spoke about how "Teddy has become a part of history."

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Comments

[PoliticalRockChick]

The eulogies were wonderful.

[whateverlolawants]

"Love Changes Everything" is such a sweet song. I hadn't thought of it in a while, but upon hearing Nick Littlefield's heartfelt rendition, I realized the words have ran around in my unconscious mind for years. How wonderful to to know Senator Kennedy loved the song- I feel like I know him a little better. I wish I could have had a sing-along with him!

[Brooke Remmert]

What a kind, compassionate, and nurturing man we've lost. He was everyone's idea of what a Father should be. He fit so many people into his life. I'm really going to miss Senator Kennedy.

[hollyhund]

Sen Culver is such a storyteller he could do standup at the Improv!!! That was the funniest story..."nuthin' to it"!!

[LatteLiberals]

Caroline made me cry.

[Mattie]

me to, I just watched.

[LeAnn Cammack]

It was a wonderful Memorial. I was mesmerized by the love and joy each person felt for Sen. Kennedy.

A classic Irish wake - song, laughter, tears, love. Sen. Kennedy would be most pleased.

Rest in peace, Senator Edward "Teddy" M. Kennedy. May angels guide you to your final home and may you sail on towards the sun.

[kitty3363]

Oh Caroline you break my heart. Teddy's' speech was amazing today as well.

[SurrealPumpkin]

I think the image I will carry forward came at the end of the Memorial service. The shot where everyone was standing sing When Irish Eyes are Smiling and the flag draped coffin was framed by singing people.

[imjustawitchywoman]

I watched this heart warming tribute to this great man and did it through many tears.

When Orrin Hatch spoke....I really lost it. I could feel his love for Teddy, his admiration.....and how much he missed him.

I try to get through this expected, but none the less sad occasion by thinking of Teddy up in Heaven.....sailing with his Brothers.

The Kennedy family has given so much to our Country...­..includin­g the 3 lives of 3 Brothers that were taken too soon.

Teddy lived a long productive life, but he bore the burden of the loss of his brothers....and instead of being bitter or feeling sorry for himself he went on to be a surrogate father for the nieces and nephews left fatherless. And he did it with love.

He went on to give a voice to those who had none....and to be a stronger voice to those who had a voice but were never heard.

In the end....our fierce Lion entered eternal life like a lamb....surrounded by his loving family.

No one will ever ever ever fill his shoes.

I send my heart felt condolences to his family. He will be missed by so many.....I think most of the people from the Senate know things will never be the same.

Thank you Teddy.....for caring....for your service to America....for giving us a voice.

Happy sailing.

[mtrav]

Thank you, so beautifully written.

[Kateyras]

Orrin Hatch's talk was the most poignant, and I believe the most sincere. I want the Health Care Reformers to come to the center, and get the first step in place. People are hurtung now, and many more will follow if we do not do something IMMEDIATELY. If we want to honor Ted, I think that is what we should do. Put these hard lines aside and come together, to start reform. Life is too short and too precious to continue this way. God bless the Kennedy family, President Obama and Orrin Hatch.

[GEM in Orange]

Part 2 of the Quote (Matthew 25:41-46):

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’ Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

[tonkatsu]

Noter the irony in how the type of people on the Right and Left seen to have traded places since this passage was written?

[GEM in Orange]

Excellent, and very appropriate, reading at the funeral: Matthew 25:31-46

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’

[GEM in Orange]

The funeral is going on right now. BBC World News is showing it in its entirety (and without commercials). CNN International, the only other English-language station I get at my Paris hotel, is showing "Inside Rwanda", with the never-ending commercials.

[DragonflyChase]

Joe Biden and Orin Hatch gave great speeches. I fast fwded thru McCain's because all I could think about is what a two faced fair weather friend he is. How he and Orin said the day after Teddy died that if it weren't for Teddy dying, they may have a healthcare bill. What b.s., they both voted against Teddy's bill.

Orin's speech was really touching. How can he vote against healthcare reform now? If he does he's not honoring the friend he claims to hold so dear. Joe's speech was great. He's a good guy. I laughed all the way thru the other guy's story about the "sailing race". That guy has a good schtick. Good stuff.

[annieR]

John McCain's speech began with a self-aggrandizing statement about his receiving the "Profiles in Courage" award, and it ended with him rolling his eyes and walking off the podium platform, ignoring Vicki, Ted's wife who had risen from her chair and was walking to him to embrace and thank him for speaking. Vicki had done done the same to the preceding (and subsequent) speakers, so it wasn't a surprise. McCain completely ignored her and walked right past her. He didn't even glance toward her or the family. John McCain surpassed even his own limits of nasty behavior.

[longislandlol]

Poor Cindy McCain--

[AmyRN]

I would like to ask the Republicans who claim Ted Kennedy as a good friend, why they are not denouncing the likes of Limbaugh, Beck etc. who have been extremely nasty about Kennedy!!!

With friends like those, who needs enemas?

[1dogs2]

Although not unexpected, the Senator's death hit me really hard. Watching the news coverage of the memorials, I felt as though my entire adult life and the last 50 years of the nation's history were flashing before my eyes, much of it colored by the terrible pain and consequences for the nation of the martyrdoms of the '60s. The honor guards and the old Irish custom of keeping vigil at the casket brought it all flooding back.

As the week progressed, however, and especially after last night's celebration, I find that the rituals and pageantry have had the effect of finally healing those old wounds and griefs. Perhaps that's because Teddy was allowed to live a full life in his fully human way, with all its ups and downs, mistakes and triumphs, but above all, its demonstration of the possibility of redemption in world that is quick to condemn and slow to forgive, and of the extraordinary difference that one thoroughly decent and greatly gifted person can make in the life of a nation and the lives of all of its people, even of those too blind to see the gifts bestowed on them.

No nation has an endless supply of such persons. Teddy's accomplishments may measure the terrible cost of the premature loss of Jack and Bobby, but this morning I'm simply grateful for the life and service of Teddy Kennedy. May he rest in peace.