A state funeral was held on Thursday for <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/obituaries/2024/12/30/jimmy-carter-death-us-president/" target="_blank">Jimmy Carter</a>, honouring for the last time the former president who died on December 29, aged 100. The casket of the former president, draped with an American flag, was carried by uniformed guards into Washington's National Cathedral, the neo-Gothic church and landmark of the US capital, as family, friends and officials sat solemnly in the pews. Steven Ford, the son of former president Gerald Ford, gave a tribute written by his father. The two former presidents, bitter rivals in the 1970s, became friends later and made a pact to speak at each other's funerals. He spoke about the two flying aboard Air Force One en route to <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/egypt" target="_blank">Egypt </a>to attend the funeral of Anwar Sadat, the former Egyptian leader who signed a peace deal with Israel in 1978, with support from Mr Carter. "There's a old line to the effect that two presidents in a room is one too many," Mr Ford said. "Frankly, I wondered how awkward that long flight might be to Cairo, and it was a long flight, but the return trip was not nearly long enough for it was somewhere over the Atlantic that Jimmy and I forged a friendship that transcends politics." Mr Biden earlier declared January 9 a national day of mourning. All executive departments and agencies of the federal government will be closed for the day, and he has ordered US flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days. Mr Biden has only 11 days left in his presidency, and this is likely to be the last time he gives a eulogy in the role. Former US presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton attended the funeral, as well as president-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who resigned on Monday, also participated. Events to honour Mr Carter began in the late president's home state of Georgia. His body was taken to Washington on Tuesday, where it has<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2025/01/07/jimmy-carter-to-lie-in-state-at-us-capitol-ahead-of-funeral/" target="_blank"> lain in state</a> at the US Capitol. Vice President Kamala Harris, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate majority leader John Thune all gave speeches at the Capitol that highlighted Mr Carter's faith, humility and love for his country. Hundreds of people braved the cold, snowy weather in Washington, some queuing for hours, to pay their respects to the former Democratic leader. Mr Carter, the 39th president of the US, served a single term from 1977-1981. After leaving the White House, he dedicated his time <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2024/12/30/jimmy-carter-us-politics-presidency/" target="_blank">to humanitarian</a> causes. In 2002, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for campaigning for human rights and engaging in international <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/us-news/2024/12/30/jimmy-carter-middle-east/" target="_blank">peace negotiations</a>. After the funeral on Thursday, Mr Carter's remains will be flown back to Plains, Georgia, for a private service at the church where he once taught Sunday school, before his burial.