A final salute: South Carolina honors Sen. Lindsey Graham’s decades of service

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) — South Carolina has said its final goodbye to longtime U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham Wednesday in front of thousands of people gathered in downtown Columbia for a public funeral honoring both his military and public service.

Graham, a Republican, represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate for more than three decades. Before serving in Congress, he spent 33 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring with the rank of colonel. Throughout his career, Graham became one of the state’s most recognizable political figures, serving on several high-profile Senate committees and playing a key role in national debates on defense, the judiciary and foreign policy.

The day’s events follow a memorial service held Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

Graham’s final goodbye to the S.C. State House

Graham’s casket was led out by two horses, a dozen pallbearers, a hearse and men in uniform at the public tribute at the South Carolina State House. Dozens and dozens of people who all had a connection to Graham, including Governor Henry McMaster and Senator Tim Scott, were in attendance. And many people came outside their offices to the top of the statehouse steps to pay their respects as well.

This visit gave the public a chance to give Graham a last goodbye in a place that housed the offices of many friends and colleagues of his, as he served most of his life to the people of South Carolina.

Law enforcement officers from agencies across South Carolina participated in a ceremonial presentation and an F-16 flyover by the 169th Fighter Wing from McEntire Joint National Guard Base took flight overhead.

The horse-drawn military wagon, reserved for funerals of service members and distinguished public officials, holding Graham’s casket, made its way down Main Street for a public procession.

A final wave to a dedicated public servant

Nearly everyone outside was either taking photos or videos documenting the historical moment. If  they weren’t, they were standing in silence watching/

Attendee Kat Seigler says today was for everyone, no matter what side of the political aisle someone lands on.

“He was a man that from day one loved South Carolina, served South Carolina, served his country,” Seigler said. ”And I think he’s worthy of people coming out and honoring and I’m happy to see now that it’s getting a little, that the ceremony’s kicked off, that people are coming out to show their respect.”

Other attendee Tom Blackwell says he believed Graham worked for everyone in America, whether one is a Democrat or a Republican. 

“I just come out and, you know, it’s a show of respect,” Blackwell said. “You know, he’s the last of a breed that wasn’t afraid to go across the aisle and speak and work with the other side. You know, try to reach something that you just don’t hear of anymore.”

The funeral procession ended at First Baptist Church of Columbia for a public funeral service.

Friends, colleagues give their praise to Lindsey Graham

While this was a funeral, it was much more an authentic remembering of Senator Graham from the guests, to the music, to the speeches. It was almost a lighthearted affair more than a funeral dirge.

Governor Henry McMaster was the first of three to deliver a tribute. He called Graham a true son of South Carolina and a tireless fighter in Washington for state priorities, saying he attacked evil and didn’t waste time.

He talked about how Graha, fought to help clean up plutonium in the Savannah River and showed support when he was elected for his fellow senator from South Carolina, Fritz Hollings, who happened to be a Democrat. McMaster also recalled a specific moment when Graham, himself and Democrat Rep. Jim Clyburn all worked together to secure millions of dollars in grant money. 

“I recite all these instances just to present a picture of a man I will describe as a full-fledged son of South Carolina, a man of genuine happiness, dedicated to the state and devoted to his friends and to his family,” McMaster said. “Yet a man who, to protect the people of his state or in response to injustice, could bring forth a torment of ferocious firepower as great as any battleship.”

U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R) and former congressman Trey Gowdy III also spoke, talking about Graham’s decades of service and his backstory as a poor kid growing up to become an internationally recognized Senator who shares dinner tables with kings and presidents. 

All of the speeches emphasized just how down-to-earth Graham was. Gowdy called him one of the least pretentious people in politics. 

In a lighthearted moment, Scott recounted some legal advice Graham once gave to Senator Katie Britt’s children, telling them “Don’t sell drugs on school property. The criminal enhancements are worth it.”

On another occasion, Scott says he invited Graham to a prayer breakfast, not knowing that he was not a morning person. 

“Lindsey said, ‘Have you ever thought about having a prayer lunch or a prayer dinner?’” Scott said. “I was like, ‘Lindsey’s already set, man. I need you there.’ And he said, ‘I ain’t coming. If Jesus comes before 10 a.m., I am not going to be there.’ But Lindsey, committed to his friends, did what I hadn’t seen him do since then. At 8:31 a.m. Lindsey walks through the door. Because Lindsey Graham was always committed to his friends.”

It was clear from Gowdy’s speech the pair were good friends, even though, as Gowdy pointed out, Graham endorsed his opponent the first time he ran for Congress. But once there, Gowdy said Graham was among the first to call to congratulate him and promised to help the freshman congressman for the betterment of the state. 

Gowdy said Graham was misunderstood as a war hawk, when he actually had deep appreciation for the military and actively worked to end wars in places like Ukraine, where he had been just a day before he died. 

Gowdy said Graham represented the American dream and expressed it with his quick wit and sharp humor. 

“And I can tell you right now, he would be looking down on us, wondering why there were more people here than why Governor McMaster had not already named the city of Columbia after him,” Gowdy said. “But Governor McMaster and Senator Scott put their finger on it. The reason Lindsey resonated with us is that he was us. This undersized kid who was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but he was born with a plastic fork in his mouth in Central South Carolina. But with wit and determination and hard work, your fellow citizens will trust you to represent them. That is the story of America. It is the story of South Carolina that we punch above our weight.”

The service was also filled with a few other close friends and colleagues reading scripture and giving introductions.

Once it wrapped, Graham’s casket made its way to Pickens County for a private family burial.

How Graham’s legacy impacts Lowcountry leaders

CJ Westfall, chairman of the Dorchester County Republican Party, said many South Carolinians are still processing Graham’s death.

“It’s an extremely heavy moment,” Westfall said. “Folks are certainly feeling it. It was a shot to the gut when we all found out. It’s certainly a heavy moment, and it’s not lost on us. I think the everyday average person feels it that’s watched him serve our state for the last 33 years.”

Westfall said Graham’s impact extended into communities across the state.

“The everyday common person has been touched by Senator Graham,” Westfall said. “Each municipality, each city, each county across South Carolina, he’s found a way to touch them and bring relief to them, including our community here in Dorchester County and all over the Lowcountry. I think you’ll see a lot of everyday people at the services.”

Westfall said Graham’s work also had a direct impact on local communities, including in Summerville.

“Lindsey was not somebody who was always looked at as a partisan figure,” Westfall said. “Here in Summerville, he helped with the construction of the Berlin G. Myers Parkway, which helped alleviate traffic right here on Main Street. So he will certainly be sorely missed.”

Westfall said Graham’s influence also gave South Carolina a stronger voice on the national stage.

“Lindsey had worked his way up through and earned his tenure so that South Carolina could punch above its weight,” Westfall said. “So losing him is going to be a major loss for South Carolina when it comes to budgeting issues and when it comes to presidential elections. It’s a huge, huge loss. He worked his way up to earn that tenure and South Carolina will sorely miss him.”

Westfall said Graham’s influence extended far beyond South Carolina, pointing to his role in national politics and foreign policy.

“Lindsey was a global figure,” Westfall said. “He was recognized internationally for his work in foreign policy. He was recognized in the Senate by his colleagues as a ranking judiciary member. He led the Judiciary Committee. He led the Budget Committee. So this is somebody who helped decide where billions of dollars were spent around the country. This is somebody who helped decide where the majority of the legislation that comes through the Senate. That’s an extremely powerful person.”

While Wednesday marks the end of an era for one of South Carolina’s longest-serving elected officials, Westfall said attention will soon shift to choosing Graham’s successor.

“It signifies the end of the Lindsey Graham era, but South Carolina Republicans are looking at the election happening in 13 days,” Westfall said. “We’re going to be picking somebody to represent us for the next six years in two weeks. The last few people who have represented this seat, there’s been five people total who have represented us in the Senate in the last 70 years. When people put that in perspective, they’ll be looking at who can we trust as a proven leader to carry on the torch for Senator Graham.”