Service Corporation International Failed to get Senator Kennedy to Arlington on time for his burial.

Service Corporation International, the World’s Largest Funeral Corporation made the conclusion of three days of the celebration of the Life of Edward Kennedy, a debacle. For simplicity sake, SCI, Service Corporation international

As  mentioned in a previous post. The Pall was not placed on the casket properly at the church in Boston. Sadly the casket went down the aisle with the Pall not in place  properly on the casket. A member of the Kennedy Family had to get out of their seat in the service and straighten the Pall.  This should not happen at any funeral in the United States of America.

Is straightening out a cloth such a big deal. In most cases no. At a funeral yes. At the Funeral of a national figure, yes, yes, yes.

But by far the the debacle occurred when Senator Kennedy did not arrive at 5:30pm at Arlington National Cemetery. You do not have to have a camera to know that the military was ready for the Funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. They stood at attention expecting that Senator Kennedy’s hearse would arrive at 5:30 pm.

Kennedy was an hour and a half late. The result most of the burial service with  television networks waiting was not seen by millions.

Weather delay? Secret Service delay? Family issues?  Maybe.  In  any Funeral service it is the responsibility of the Funeral Director(Service Corporation International here ) to see that the deceased arrives at the Cemetery on time.

Armchair quarterbacking here: Everything would have come off on time.

If the service at Our Lady Of Perpetual Help had begun at 9:00 AM.

If the motorcades had driven faster.

If some of the ceremonies during the day were curtailed.

There were many other steps that SCI and the funeral directors involved  could have been taken to get Senator Edward Kennedy to Arlington on time for his burial.Truly, this was something the American people wanted to see live.

Those around you cannot control the time of your death, but they can see to it you are buried on time.

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by R.Brian Burkhardt

Ted Kennedy Motorcade Pic from flickr under the creative commons license from

megabeth’s photostream

Your Funeral Guy R.Brian Burkhardt is a funeral director in Illinois and Virginia. He author of the acclaimed funeral consumer guide on funeral cost Rest in Peace  R. Brian Burkhardt is a Funeral Director in Illinois and Virginia. He is the author of Rest in peace insiders Tiops to the Low Cost less Stress Funeral.

Technorati Tags: blog, burial service, casket, cemetery, edward kennedy, funeral, funeral director, funeral industry, hearse, internment, kennedy, pal, pall, SCI, senator edward kennedy, service, Service Corporation International

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