WASHINGTON — Hundreds of mourners will pay tribute to former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright during her funeral Wednesday.
Here are five things you need to know about the service for Albright, who died last month:
1. When and where will the funeral be held?
About 1,400 people are expected to attend the invitation-only service, which begins at 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., according to The Associated Press.
“Secretary Albright was a trailblazing diplomat, a fierce advocate for women and a dear friend of this cathedral,” the Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of Washington National Cathedral, said in a statement earlier this month. “We look forward to not only celebrating her legendary accomplishments, but also to recalling the deep and abiding faith that shaped the extraordinary story of this beloved child of God.”
2. How can I watch?
The cathedral is providing a livestream of the service on YouTube. Click here to watch.
Viewers can follow along by downloading the funeral leaflet here.
We are honored to host Secretary Albright’s funeral service this Wednesday, with eulogies by President Biden, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton & Albright’s daughters.
— Washington National Cathedral (@WNCathedral) April 26, 2022
The public may watch the service at https://t.co/hBvFaauxYk. pic.twitter.com/YSNbVjUCwL
3. Who will speak?
President Joe Biden is slated to deliver the eulogy during the funeral, which also will feature tributes from former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Albright’s three daughters, Anne, Alice and Katharine, according to the cathedral. Other prominent figures expected to attend include former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, current Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and former Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and John Kerry, the AP reported.
4. When and how did Albright die?
Albright died March 23 following a battle with cancer, her family said in a statement at the time. She was 84.
“She was surrounded by family and friends,” the statement read. “We have lost a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.”
>> RELATED STORY: Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright dies at 84
Below is a statement from the family of @Madeleine: pic.twitter.com/C7Xt0EN5c9
— Madeleine Albright (@madeleine) March 23, 2022
Following the announcement, leaders from both major political parties paid tribute to Albright.
>> RELATED STORY: ‘She served with distinction’: World reacts to death of Madeleine Albright
My statement on the passing of Madeleine Albright—one of the finest Secretaries of State, an outstanding UN Ambassador, a brilliant professor, and an extraordinary human being. pic.twitter.com/50QXFhzGit
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) March 23, 2022
Statement from former President George W. Bush on Madeline Albright, which included an oil painting by Bush of Albright pic.twitter.com/zAdesM2ETx
— Anthony DeRosa (@Anthony) March 23, 2022
Madeleine Albright was one-of-a-kind and first-of-a kind
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 23, 2022
As a refugee who fled the Nazis and Soviet Communism, she embodied the American dream in rising to become our first female Secretary of State
A titan in American history—her story inspired women and girls across the globe https://t.co/S6N5tYM8sS
I was grieved to learn that our nation has lost former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. My prayers are with Secretary Albright’s family and all who mourn her loss. My full statement: https://t.co/w9i8vSuQBo
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) March 23, 2022
5. What were some of her noteworthy accomplishments?
Albright, who served as secretary of state from 1997 to 2001 under then-President Bill Clinton, was the first woman to hold the post, according to the U.S. State Department. During her tenure, she promoted the expansion of NATO into the former Soviet bloc nations.
Before she became secretary of state, Albright served as the ambassador to the United Nations during the Clinton administration.
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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