Community Corner

Top U.S. Dignitaries Honor Betty Ford

The memorial service was held at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert.

First lady Michelle Obama and former President George W. Bush were among the dignitaries Tuesday to honor former first lady Betty Ford, who died Friday at the age of 93.

Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is also a former first lady, entered in Palm Desert together, where about 1,000 guests were in attendance.

Former President Bill Clinton, had to cancel his plans to attend because of a mechanical problem on a plane that never left the ground in New York, according to reports.

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Former first ladies Rosalynn Carter and Nancy Reagan attended, as well as former California first lady Maria Shriver.

Carter, a close friend of Ford's, gave a eulogy.

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“Betty Ford was my friend and I’m honored to be here today,” Carter said.

Carter praised Ford for her outspokenness on several issues, including breast cancer and addiction.

“She showed me there is life after the White House and it can be a very full life,’’ she said in talking about Ford’s work at the Betty Ford Center.

“It was my privilege to know her.”

Journalist Cokie Roberts, who also spoke, said Ford and other first ladies would make sure their husbands behaved.

Gerald Ford told Cokie: "The night before I took the oath of office, I took Betty's hand and we repeated the proverbs,'' she said.

Rev. Lane Hensley, who joined St. Margaret's in July 2010, said Ford  showed that "women are created equal to men, that their dignity is God given."

A private visitation for the Ford family was held earlier today. The memorial service started just after 2 p.m.

A motorcade arrived about 11:20 a.m. at the church, and the Ford family went inside.

You can watch live video of the service online.

Following the service, the public can pay their respects at repose from 5 p.m. to midnight. They will be shuttled in from the Indian Wells Tennis Gardens. (Learn .)

Ford will be flown to Grand Rapids on Wednesday.


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