The Lindsey Graham Memorial Services Part 2 - Columbia and Central, in South Carolina

Lindsey Graham's family actually owned a bar in Graham's hometown of Central. Yeah, that's right. He talked about it often, you know, that he learned so much being raised by them and learned some life lessons there. Growing up, he always said, I was just a poor boy from a small town in South Carolina. You know, that bar is now a restaurant. But as Fox Carolina's own, Enrique Salinas reports on the building's history, as well as how the senator's hometown is remembering his roots today. It is a small town and inside here is a small restaurant too, but with a unique feeling, a unique feeling of home cooking now has the identity of a Mexican restaurant. But still there's a lot of history here, including history that is tied to Senator Lindsey Graham's family. Central is a town of no more than 5,500 residents. Surrounded by the familiar small town feeling. For many years, it was considered a central point between Charlotte and Atlanta. With a railroad and a highway running through downtown, And along Main Street, this is the building where Senator Lindsey Graham and his sister grew up. So cute. I mean, the environment is just kind of tucked into the trees. It's just the lights everywhere, having the nice little patio. We were able to bring our dog out here. And I brought my daughters. For those who are new in town, this place is a hidden gem. I had no idea. That was such news to me. So that was really exciting that we got to, you know, experience what it possibly felt like for him. So we had just a wonderful little lunch. And for those who know the restaurant well, it remains a special place. The fact that it's family owned and the service is always fantastic. In this town, the news of Lindsey Graham passing took many people by surprise. Being a congressman than a senator, you would think that may be more palatial, but the fact that it's just a hometown, small. home restaurant. It's a good feeling. There's a feeling of solidarity and mourning in central for the grand family and for Lindsey Graham and men who grew up in the room in the back of this building. And according to those who remember him, didn't let politics get in the way of meeting people. I'm sharing a smile. Very approachable, knowledgeable, friendly, a smile that was really infectious. It seemed like he was an honest person that wanted the best for those around him and his family and his community. His politics and mine didn't totally align, but the fact that he would reach across the aisle and try to bring people together. I thought that was very encouraging. I wish that we saw more of that in politics today. I come from a small town, so coming from kind of similar areas and similar places and I think just knowing that having that in common with people that...

maybe you're in politics knowing that you have similar background i think that that's probably something a big takeaway that like we're all kind of the same in central enrique salinas fox carolina news now that procession heading to pickens county right now as we've told you for graham's private burial with his family is set to slow down right in front of the restaurants that used to be owned by his parents very special moment will happen for sure This is the place I feel most comfortable. This is the place that shaped who I am. This is the place I owe the most allegiance to. I'm lucky to be the senator from South Carolina. Very few countries this can happen. I'm the first of my family to go to college. Neither one of my parents finished high school. And I've done 33 years in the military. I enjoyed serving in uniform. I've been overseas. But this is home. This always will be home when my time is up. I will come back to the upstate of South Carolina. And the only way I know to pay people back for this privilege is just do the best I can while I have the job.

Good morning, South Carolina. I'm South Carolina ETV's Gavin Jackson here, and we're breaking into our regular programming on South Carolina ETV and South Carolina Public Radio to bring you live special broadcast coverage of the late Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral service here at the State House in Columbia. And I'm here with the University of South Carolina political science professor Kirk Randazzo. We'll be bringing some analysis and commentary over the coming hours as we look at the life and legacy of the late center, Lindsey Graham, as we honor him today. Day two of these funeral services for the late center who passed away on July 11. Now, flags are flying here at half staff and across the state as well as they have been since shortly after we lost Senator Graham on July 11th. They were also lowered nationwide through July 18th. And like I said, we'll be bringing you special coverage over the next several hours of the late center's final journey home here following those memorial services yesterday in Washington, including in the Capitol Rotunda and at the Washington National Cathedral. But today we are here in Columbia and in just a few moments, we expect to see the South Carolina State Guard bring out the basket on the Kaysan with the Senator's remains here and emerge from the State House grounds on the north steps of the State House. You can hear a lot of buzzing going on right now. There's a lot of activity going on right now as we await to see the Kaysan coming out here on the north side of the State House. And of course, there'll be an honor guard there as well. You can see the flags there flying a half staff over the State House on the sunny, warm July day. A lot of folks have turned out, including many media outlets here to honor the late Senator. As we see a very special day very long ceremonial day. A lot of crowds are growing for me here today to see The final journey for the center who served South Carolina for 71 years, of course, and we'll have more details, of course, on that journey shortly. We'll have that special service there at First Baptist Church in Columbia at noon. But before then, we will have a flyover of F-16s from McIntyre from McIntyre, Joint National Guard Base there in Sumter, the 169th Fighter Wing from McIntyre. Those F-16s will be flying over the statehouse here shortly. We expect that around 11 o'clock. I expect to see the center remains coming out shortly as well. There's a small crowd gathered out here. They'll be waiting there for that before they process down Main Street to First Baptist Church for that noon service. And between them, we'll be talking about what's going on and all those things that will be watching today. We'll be following the case on down the street as well as its arrival at First Baptist, where we'll have a special program feed for you as well. Everything that happens today as we provide you this coverage on South Carolina ETV and South Carolina Public Radio. As we await the flyover, of course, once it does occur around 11 o'clock in about a minute or so, we will see this detachment. Head down Main Street here in Columbia. Sounds like we have about one minute. Of course, the horses are getting a little antsy, of course. It's hot out here. Probably a little hot, too. But it's going to be a remarkable sight to see. We see flyover's inauguration day out here. But this will be something special, of course, for the Lloyd's Senator, who was in the Air Force, who did spend time at McIntyre as a JAG officer, and spent time abroad as well, too. After law school, he was in the United States Air Force, six and a half years of service and active duty as an Air Force lawyer. He was in Germany. He came back stateside, and of course, like we were talking about, was dealing with the Gulf War at that time.

being a lawyer for the Air Force. And spent several years training other lawyers in the JAG Corps when he was part of the Air National Guard as well. A multifaceted career, one that would be enough for one person, but it seems for many people, like we're saying, always working. Constituent services is what he and his office are known for and will be missed, certainly. And the ability to get things done, like again, like we said, the president yesterday was talking about that. And here we go for the Air Force flying. has heard those F-169 fighter wing from McIntyre Joint National Guard Base. A fitting tribute there with that one, the one flyover, the missing pilot refers to the missing man formation, of course, a symbolic aerial salute performing during military funerals and memorial services like we have today. It's just remarkable to see Kirk. Yeah, that gave me goosebumps just watching that. And again, I think it's important to remark on how rare something like this is, which then speaks to his influence. And the Kaysan is moving on the north side of the cityhouse grounds. The streets are shut down as it's preparing its way to head down Main Street, that horse-drawn Kaysan. Of course, these are members of Honor Guard, the South Carolina State Guard Kaysan detachment here. That's his final trip home in South Carolina. House with USC political science professor Kirk Randazzo. As we look at the life and legacy of the late center, Lindsey Graham, who died at 71 on July 11th, two days after turning 71. And as he was in the middle of a campaign for his fifth term in office, now, of course, we don't want to talk about the future of that because we know we'll be talking about that in the days and weeks to come, of course, because today is about the late senators, day two of these moments in recognizing and remembering him and his service to the state. And kind of going back to this as we wait to see what happens here, Kirk, and these ceremonies to start off, I wonder what we're going to hear from the governor. Of course, they've had a working relationship too. I want to say I was down in Beaufort County last November. They brought Lindsay in to talk and introduce the governor because he was getting a war because he's the longest serving governor. They've been together all through this. You know, it was just funny to see them kind of cut up and joke because they are probably two of the funniest politicians in South Carolina. Governor Henry McMaster always has a good joke, always a story. Even if he's repeated before, it's always, it always hits, it always lands. And same with Senator Graham. You heard that yesterday from folks talking in the rotunda as well as the National Cathedral. So what do you think we'll be hearing today? Of course, different tone from Washington, but still honoring the late senator. Yeah, I would expect that today we're going to get a bit more of,

who Lindsey Graham was as an individual. There will still be some stories about him as a senator, as a member of the House, his impact on South Carolina. But I expect that we'll get a bit more of who Lindsey Graham was, excuse me, as a person. Because the individuals, as you said, that are lined up to speak, had a very deep personal relationship with Senator Graham that existed over decades. And so, you know, I can only imagine if I was in that position, which among numerous stories might I tell in a moment like this, how would I best represent or remember my friend? And so I think we're going to get a lot of personal moments from everybody who is slated to speak. Governor Henry McMaster, Secretary Scott Bessent, Senator Scott, congressman, constitutional officers, elected officials, members of the judiciary, distinguished guests, friends, and people of God. On behalf of the First Baptist Church of Columbia, and especially on behalf of Senator Graham's family, welcome. Thank you for gathering today. Thank you for the many prayers and expressions of encouragement and of love over the last two and a half weeks. We are here to give thanks to God for the life of Senator Lindsay Olin Graham and to affirm the sure hope that belongs to all who trust in Jesus Christ. It was just 31 days ago that Senator Graham was seated in this very sanctuary, just right back there with his beloved sister, Darlene, their family. And he came here and in his typical humorous fashion said, this is the highlight of my year to remind me what our country is all about through Baptists who can sing and dance. And he said, if you don't think Baptist can dance, you've never been to First Baptist Church. And then speaking of our nation's future, he delivered what became his last public comments in the state of South Carolina. reminding us of President Reagan's words that America is only one generation away from losing her freedom. Senator Graham then made this commitment. He said, America is not going to lose her freedom on our watch. That was more than a memorable line. It reflected the conviction that shaped his public life. So today, Darlene, to your family. to the devoted staff of Senator Graham to countless friends who mourn with them today. We extend our deepest sympathy. We grieve with you, and we hold fast to the promise of our Lord who said, don't let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my father's house are many rooms. I am going away to prepare a place for you. I will come again and take you to myself. Congressman Jim Clyburn of South Carolina reads the Psalms. The Lord is my separate. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley, for the shadow of death, I fear no evil. For thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Thou anointeth my head with oil. my cup runneth over surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and i will dwell in the house of the lord forever words from former graham campaign manager scott farmer i had the honor and privilege of working for senator Lindsey Graham than Congressman Lindsey Graham, and even presidential candidate Lindsey Graham. That was a shorter campaign. For 25 years, he was my boss, my friend, my mentor. And a few years back, I called him and said, Senator, you know I've been going to seminary. God's moving me in a different direction out of the campaign world and into ministry. And you're going to need to have a different campaign manager for your 26 reelection. And he paused for a second and said, Scott, do you not think what we do is important? And I said, Senator, it is critically important. It's life and death at times decisions. But, Senator, it's not eternal. And he paused and said, I understand. Today, this passage from Revelation is eternal. Revelation 21, 2 through 7, I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. prepared as a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband, and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, look, God's dwelling place is now among the people and he will dwell with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new. Then he said, write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. He said to me, it is done. I am the alpha.

I am the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty, I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God, and they will be that my children. Would you pray with me? Lord God Almighty, good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, the alpha and the omega, we thank you for this day. We thank you for her friend, Lindsey Graham. You gave us 71 incredible gears with this man, and we are so grateful. You only made one like him for sure. And we're grateful that we were blessed by his presence, our state, our country, were impacted by what he did. God, thank you for just your providential hand guiding him for all those years, working out all those things, and putting him at the right place at the right time to do what you wanted to get done. Because we know from your word you put our leaders in place. And we're so grateful. to have been part of his team, to have been part of his friend, to just have known him. Lord, God, the work is not done. And as he said to me that day, don't you think it's important? And it is. And so we pray for our leaders. We pray especially for Darlene in this new role and her family. God give her strength to stand, to fight, to be there. to show up day after day to do your will. We love you and we are so honored by our friend and all that he meant to us. Lord, sear in our minds this day the impact that he had on so many people. We are grateful. And God, we know from your word that those who believe and trust in you, Jesus, will be reunited and every tear will be wiped away. We look forward to the day where we see our brother again, Lindsey Graham, with you, Jesus, bowing at your feet. We love you and thank you. And it's in your name we pray.

Thank the family, darling, for inviting me for this very special moment for a lot of us. We meet in sadness over the loss of one of South Carolina's greatest sons, but also to celebrate this poor boy from a little town in South Carolina, as he called himself, to celebrate what he accomplished through grit, determination, character, for his state, his country, and the world. His impact was enormous, and I'm confident, as are you, that there will never be another Lindsey Graham. He recognized the greatness of America and her obligations in a dangerous world. Lindsey Graham recognized the seriousness of his work, but also the value of humor and a light-hearted spirit. Lindsey Graham understood the hopes and dreams and needs of his state and delivered every time. President's paupers famous or forgotten. He treated everybody the same. We have seen him attack evil and injustice and embrace friendship in the common good, all with equal fervor. You know, the psychologists tell us that when we grieve for lost friends or loved ones, Part of our George Soros for ourselves. In a melancholy reflection on missed opportunities, mistakes, roads not taken, in short, wasted time. I don't think Lindsay wasted any time. I have really never seen him sitting still. An old farmer once said of somebody, he said, the boy is either going somewhere, getting back or going again. And that's Lindsay. We may ask ourselves at times like this, where will I be when I get where I'm going? We never know. We never know how any particular event might influence the next event and the next and the next. You remember comedians Dan Ruin and Dick Martin hilariously joked on their TV show laughing about the fickle finger of fate. Lindsay felt that finger of fate. As the first in his family to attend college, soon to lose his mother at 20 years old, then his father, 15 years later, with his little sister, Darlene at 13, becoming his responsibility. Lindsey Graham would have been the last person on earth to imagine that he... Would graduate from law school, be elected to the United States Senate, travel the world in service of his great country, earn the respect and confidence of world leaders, and become the ally, friend, and even golfing partner of the President of the United States. But he did it all, and he did it with his sense of humor, humility, and integrity intact the whole time. Three little stories. I remember being on the campaign bus with Lindsey and Senator John McCain leading up to the 2008 presidential election. There was a show that's called The Diology Show on TV. Maybe you all remember it. It had a character named Borat, who was a reporter. The episodes were absolutely ridiculous.

As the bus rolled along, Lindsay would invariably begin retelling those scenes, acting them out, first through chuckles, then laughing, until finally his words became incoherent, by which time Senator McCain would be in hysterics. Appeals of laughter were engulfing the ever cynical consultants and reporters in the back of the bus, and it was something I will never forget the sight. The respect, love, and pure, unabashed joy shared by those two remarkable men. I also remember being in a crowded conference room one time in the White House a few years ago with President Trump, Lindsey, Senator Tim Scott, Congressman Jill Wilson, Attorney General Alan Wilson, and the various Department of Energy officials and staff. What was the subject? It was a hot day. the department's wholly unsatisfactory performance in promising but not removing plutonium from the Savannah River site in South Carolina. The room was tense. The top DOE official made a bold statement about how their great progress was going along in removing that plutonium. which Lindsey was sitting next to the president perceived as highly inaccurate, I'll say. And he said so in loud plain language. As younger staff members tried to disappear into the walls, the president reached over, patted Lindsay on the arm and with a twinkle in his eyes, said, maybe you should calm down a little bit, Lindsay. Lindsay quickly replied, thank you, Mr. President. That's quite a comment coming from you.

Everybody except the Department of Energy officials loved it. Here's another one, is in 2002, Lindsey was elected Senator, Mark Sandford was elected governor, I was elected Attorney General. Lindsay took his oath before we did on January the 7th in Washington. Mark and I would take hours at the State House later on Wednesday, January the 15th, along with the other constitutional officers. We all assembled just before noon in the State House. Protocol provided that all the participants would gather in the library up in the top to be announced in turn and proceed out down the steps to their seats for the ceremony. When the names were announced in sequence, Senator, senior Senator Fritz Hollings, and then brand new Senator Lindsey Graham emerged under the portico of the top of the steps of the State House. Ours being mostly a Republican state then and now, Senator Hollings, a long-time Democrat, received noticeably polite applause. As it began to subside, Lindsay's name was announced. And his applause immediately began to swell. Lindsay reached over and grabbed Senator Holling's hand, and they raised it high with his own. So there we were, if you get this picture, our two U.S. senators, hands held high waving to the crowd when the thunderous applause washed over both of them. I believe that not many men would have done what Lindsay did. I recite those instances, and I have one more that came to mine, and I sitting next to Congressman Jim Clyburn. South Carolina was in a contest with the rest of the country for some major funds to help us be innovative in our technology. South Carolina decided on energy. We need energy. And we were working in about 300 applications that would be narrowed down to 12 states would get this money. So we worked and worked and we got notice that we were maybe down to about 30. Finally, we realized they told us we were one of the 12. It was going to get the money. It's $48 million, I think, a year. Well, what did we do? We ended up—I was on my phone in my office in Columbia. Lindsay was on his phone, I think, in Washington. And Congressman Jim Clyburn was on his phone in Washington. And Secretary Gina Romando, Secretary of Commerce, under President Biden, was on her phone, I presume, in Washington. And we talked and we made the case. Each in that turn said something. Finally, towards the end of the conversation, Lindsay started cutting up as usual. It ended up being a very happy phone call. And we didn't find out then, but we found out later that we would get the grant. But at the end of that conversation, Secretary Romando said something I found very interesting. She said, gentlemen, this is the first time since I've been in this office that I have had a bipartisan conversation.

to which I said, that's the way we do it in South Carolina. Lindsay was at the forefront of that type of approach to life. I recite all these instances just to present the picture of a man I would describe as a full-flage son of South Carolina, a man of genuine happiness dedicated to his state and devoted to his friends and to his family. A man who to protect the people of his state or in response to injustice could bring forth a torrent of ferocious firepower as great as any battleship. We saw a glimpse of this all of us did on television when Brett Kavanaugh was under unfair attack in his Supreme Court Justice hearing. Today, in our 250 year anniversary since the birth of our nation through a violent revolution, I am confident that South Carolina's great leader, Christopher Gadsden, general statesman and creator of the don't tread on me flag, would be very proud of Lindsey Graham. I know I am, and I know that you are. I know that people all over the world are, and we are deeply grateful for the life of this poor boy from a little town in South Carolina. We have great music in this church. My church is down the street, but this church got great music, so is mine. We don't have 500 people in the choir, though.

If the singer-songwriter Vince Gill were here, y'all maybe know the song. I bet I know what he would say. He'd say, go rest high on that mountain. Son, your work on earth is done. Go to heaven or shouting. Love for the father and the son. We love you, Lindsay. Goodbye. Until we meet again. That was Governor Henry McMaster, and now... South Carolina Senator Tim Scott. It is good to be home in South Carolina. We love when the world celebrates our heroes, but it is so good to come home to South Carolina. I miss home. And when we feel pain in our hearts, Richard, we need to be home surrounded by people who love us. who know us, who care for us. We are deeply, deeply sorry for your loss. To the Graham staffers, thank you. Thank you for stepping up to deflate. Thank you for protecting and insulating the Graham family. Thank you for going the extra mile. It has been along two plus weeks. To the Graham family, may the Lord continue to bless you with the strength and the courage that you need to pull together because this celebration will end in the next day or two or three, but the wounds won't go away so quickly. I know you'll be there for each other. Darling, what a... powerful grace-filled person to watch you under immense pressure. show up and show out. He's a blessing to South Carolina. I see we've got some Presbyterians over here. Praise the Lord, hallelujah. That was good. That's good. Even the Presbyterians step up here and dance in the Baptist Church. Someone should say amen. Never mind. It is good to be here. I haven't been here in a couple years and we certainly miss Pastor Eastup, but it's good to see them here. I will simply say this, that I am going to miss my friend. Lindsey Graham. The congressman who becomes a senator who becomes a world leader, statesman without any question, I am going to miss my friend. Lindsey Graham. I'll remember Lindsay had great humor and a lot of wit too, right? And so I'll never forget at my wedding. This Monday will be two years ago, sweetheart. I remember our anniversary is coming up on August the 3rd. Always helpful to remember that. Lindsay's at our wedding. I only invited three or four senators, and Lindsay's talking to this little kid named Case and cases in the arms of one of the parents. And Lindsay leans in and says, Case, I'm so sorry, buddy, there will be no Social Security for you.

Sean, it really happened, brother. It really happened. It was the kind of moment that everybody just, all the adults bursted out laughing. And poor little cases like, what social security? I also, President Trump talked about this yesterday, but I think it's worth repeating. I started a South Carolina prayer breakfast in D.C., and I will tell you that my first call 15 years ago was to Lindsey Graham. And at that time, I did not know that Lindsay, much like myself, we really don't like mornings. And so I called Lindsay and said, Lindsay, I need you to be there at my prayer breakfast at 8.30 a.m. Lindsay said, have you ever thought about having a prayer lunch or a prayer dinner? I said, Lindsay's already said, 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 Lindsay committed to his friends, did what I hadn't seen him do since then. At 8.31 a.m., Lindsay walks through the door. Because Lindsey Graham was always committed to his friends, even if it was uncomfortable for him. I did not realize, however, that Lindsay gave lots of advice to kids. This was a new revelation for me. I was talking to Katie Britt, who has two young kids, and she told me that Lindsay actually gave her, Trey, legal advice, the head of the Judiciary Committee, giving legal advice to a pretty good attorney in her own right. I had to write this down because I just didn't believe it. I said, well, what did he say? Well, the legal advice he gave to her two kids is simply this. All the kids in the room, listen to most of it. Don't sell drugs on school property. Because the enhanced sentencing guidelines is not worth the risk.

Second advice he gave, not legal advice, was simply this. Kids, never do for yourself what someone else will do for you. Third piece of advice, if you get away with as much as you can for as long as you can. And then one of my personal favorites, I practiced this while I was in school myself, he said, don't work too hard. Just pull your friends down. That's really good advice. Having failed a couple subjects in high school, Spanish and English, I learned how to do that firsthand. But the advice I most appreciate from Lindsay. He never spoke to me. He lived it. First piece of advice, and I hope that it helps you too. Number one, get really comfortable being yourself. Get really comfortable. being yourself. But in order to get comfortable being yourself, he would say, through his actions and not his words, you've got to know yourself. Know why God created you. Jeremiah 1-5 reminds us that God made Jeremiah a prophet before he was even in his mother's womb. Sometimes to be yourself and comfortable in your own skin, you've got to walk alone. God doesn't want carbon copies. Lindsay was an original. I would challenge each of us to honor Lindsey Graham by living as originals. God's imprint on each of us, unique and specific. It reminds me of Romans 12, too, to know the acceptable and perfect will of God. Second lesson that he demonstrated, I actually like when, if you're not a pastor, the kind of sermon I like to hear is the one that I can only hear with my eyes and feel in my heart. Second one was simply this. Learn to stand up for those who can't stand for themselves. Over 60 million Americans will never have their little feet on the soils of our country. Lindsey Graham always fought for life. He was 100% pro-life when it was convenient and when it was not. He never apologized for it. If you want to have a conversation about the special needs kids, or if you want to have a conversation about the poor, Lindsey Graham always, according to Proverbs 31-8, stand up for those who can't stand for themselves. Lindsay embodied the spirit of that verse, and he did it every single day in a way that you didn't have to hear it because you could see it.

all the time. And finally, Romans 10, 9 and 10. You see, I am going to miss Lindsay. But when I get to heaven, it will feel like for just seconds because I know eternity is real. And Romans 109 and 10 reminds me that if we confess with our hearts and believe, if we confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts that Christ was raised from the dead, you shall be saved. And if you're saved, you get the benefit of spending eternity. with the ones you love the most like Lindsey Graham. And I will tell you, having watched the sermon every day, and I will concede sometimes the sermon would come in colorful language, not found in 2 Timothy 1 in 7. Maybe third Timothy, which there is no third Timothy, but it's colorful language sometimes. But Lindsay was always authentically himself. He always found time to fight for the underdog. And we now all know that he believed in the king of kings and the Lord of Lords and the Alpha and the Omega. Let's make sure we spend eternity, God Almighty, whose son is Jesus, and our good friends like Lindsey Graham. Thank you.

Your brother, you know, yesterday the world said goodbye to Lindsey Graham in a beautiful four-hour church service. The silver lining was that is the longest period of time. Lindsey Graham had ever been in church. I want to thank you for being here to honor the life and legacy of... You know, I just never could call him Chairman Graham. He never wanted to be called Chairman Graham. He wanted to be Lindsay's. I want to thank you for being. We have so many dignitaries, so many people from famous people from television. We have so many elected officials. We have judges. And I can tell you right now, he would be looking down on us. wondering why there weren't more people here and why Governor Henry McMaster had not already named the City of Columbia after him. Both Governor Henry McMaster and Senator Scott put their finger on it. The reason Lindsay resonated with us is because 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. This kid from Central South Carolina, Darling, whose parents, y'all buried far too early, rose to be mourned by world leaders, friends with presidents. Chosen by his people, this lawyer from a small upstate law firm would be responsible for picking Supreme Court justices. Lindsey Graham is a metaphor for us, for the country, for our state. You know, our friendship began the way all really beautiful, powerful friendships began. He endorsed my opponent when I ran for Congress the first time. I'm not kidding. I wish I was. You know, a lot of politicians, they joke. They say, I'll do whatever helps you more. I'll endorse you or I'll endorse your opponent. Lindsay wasn't joking. He endorsed my opponent. After we narrowly eked out of victory and my wife is picking the confetti out of my pomade on election night, the very first phone call I got was from Lindsey Graham. He said, I will be the best friend that you have in Washington, D.C. And I'll be doggone, then Congressman Scott, if he was not. He helped us with committee assignments. He helped us navigate the waters of Washington. He never looked at us and saw a competitor. He looked at us and saw a fellow South Carolinian that needed some help. The things that that man did for me that no one else could have done.

He introduced me to a guy named Bono. He pronounced it Bono. He couldn't tell you a single song you two had ever recorded or written, but he knew that I was a fan of you too, and I wanted to meet Bono. Five different times I got to be in the room with a guy named Paul Hewson, also known as Bono. Because Lindsey Graham thought enough to think about a lowly House member and invite him over to the Senate. And you know what they were talking about? It certainly wasn't about music, and it wasn't about the earrings that Bono had. They were talking about children in Africa who needed drugs, they needed medicine, and they needed food. Sometimes in this world that we find ourselves in, 99 is a failing grade, not with Lindsey Graham. If he could find one thing that he agreed with you on, that's what he put his energies in. And with Bono, it was children in Africa. And I've got to tell you this, and my colleagues will back me up. How many different times did that man say, look, this is a tough vote? I'm going to vote yes. But y'all ought to vote no. It's better for your political career. I'm taking some risk, and I'm going to get some flack. But you need to do what is best for you, and I am going to do what is best for my beloved state of South Carolina. And he casts some really tough votes. I never met a less pretentious person in my life than Lindsey Graham. It wasn't the trappings of office that he cared about. It was the work. And there is some bitter symmetry to the fact that it was work that he lived for, Darlene, but I am convinced that it is work that took him from us. On those long trains and this plane ride to Ukraine, not because the media tells us he loved war, but because blessed are the peacemakers. People had it wrong about Lindsey Graham. Was he willing to go to war? Yes, as a last resort. Blessed are the peacemakers, he was on a trip, what turned out to be his last trip, trying to broker peace in a war where hundreds of thousands of people had lost their lives. For those D.C. reporters who believe that Lindsay lacked convictions, I can assure you he did not because I'll witness several of them. Andrew King is here. Andrew Richard Perry Van Cato. I can't even call you staff. You were not staff to him. You were family to him. You were the sons that he did not have. And we endured a lot together. We, so far in life, the four of us have never shared a prison cell.

There's still time, but we haven't done it. Not prisoners of war. But we shared a golf cart with him, and we played golf with him, and I'm not sure there's that much difference between the three. The convictions that Lindsey Graham had that come to mind immediately is he had an almost religious aversion to using what we call a range finder if you are familiar with golf. It tells you what the yardage is so you don't have to ask somebody else 15 times. How many yards do I have? He had a deeply held conviction against using hearing aids. And Sean and Angeley, he had a really deeply held conviction against the memory supplements that we sell on Fox News during commercial breaks. Because I'm just going to give you a glimpse of what playing golf of Lindsey Graham was like. So he would tee off having had no warm-up shots whatsoever, and it would go so far left that I think geometrically it may have actually been right. I think you could walk either direction and you would find the ball at the same time. And he would say, you know, hey, Trey, go get that golf ball for me. And I would say, Chairman, I love you to death. But there's a reason my wife and I left the church we were at in Spartanburg, I don't like snakes. I am not going to look for your golf ball. And he said, well, I'll just drop one out in the fairway with you. And he said, how far do I have? 168 yards. First two times you ever said anything to Lindsey Graham were just for fun. He didn't hear him. 168 yards. How far out of it? 168 yards, Chairman. 68? How did you get to be the chairman of budget? 168 yards. What do you think ought to hit? Whatever goes 168 yards, Lindsay, I don't have any idea. I'm going to hit a pitching wedge. Well, if we were hitting off of the top of Mount Everest, yes, you should hit a pitching wedge, Lindsay. You don't hit a 168-yard pitching wedge. Times that by 18 times how many rounds of golf I was privileged to play with that man.

You know, senators and federal judges have slightly different rules when it comes to golf. The first one that comes to mine is they don't pay their debts. You can tell that I don't practice law anymore because there's some judges here, and they probably don't find that as funny as I do. But Lindsay was turning over a new leaf. I played about a month ago with a guy named John Ratcliffe, who's our CIA director, and Johnny and I somehow managed to eke out like a six-up victory over Lindsay and his partner, and Lindsay decided to pay. So he brings out this crumpled up, probably counterfeit $20 bill out of his pocket, and he hands it to John Ratcliffe. Rackleff's on a government salary. He took it. I handed it back to him. I said, look, Fox is great to me. Plus, Lindsay, honestly, that would buy you two brand new suits. You need to keep that $20 bill. He told me he was going to run for president. Scott, my reaction was not unlike yours, but I said, let me hear you out. And he said, well, do you tell me what do I need to do to be more competitive in a presidential race? And I said, do you need to get married, Senator Graham? And he said, well, there are some things I'm just not willing to do, Trey, even if it means not being the President of the United States. And I don't know if y'all knew this or not. I mean, the media never talks about it. Lindsay actually wasn't married. Did you all know that? The media never brings that up, but they never get right why he was never married. I know why he was never married. I sat through a wedding ceremony with him. I know why he was not married. I sat through their wedding ceremony with Lindsey Graham. He shows up at the church, Seacoast in Charleston. He asked my wife and I to wait on him because he was running just a tad bit late. He showed up in cargo pants and a shirt, like a t-shirt. And my wife, who's the sweetest human being on the face of the earth, said, you know, Chairman Graham, would you like us to wait while you change? And he said, change what? I mean, you can barely see the stains. No, I can't see the stains, Lindsay, but I can see the Dale Earnhardt logo on your shirt. Well, he wasn't going to go change, so we finally work our way in there to the beautiful wedding of Tim and Mindy Scott. And it was gorgeous. It was a beautiful wedding. But you cannot see two deaf people beside each other at a wedding. So my wife figured that out, and she sat in between us, which was a tragic mistake in hindsight. So for those who were wondering why Lindsey Graham was never married, there's not a chance in the world that he would have made it through the wedding boughs. Because he didn't make it through Tim and Mindy's. When the pastor got to for better or worse, Lindsay whispered to me like an F-5 tornado. Like, how sick are we talking about? You mean, you mean like seasonal allergies? You mean a cold? And my wife's trying to get us both to calm down, and then they get to for richer for poor. And you can imagine what his reaction to that was. Tim, don't do it. Negotiate. Let me.

Let me go start another gang up in Washington and get you a better deal, so you have no idea how hard it is to get kicked out of a wedding, but we managed to do it. He loved—I cannot use the word staff. I cannot. Y'all have been so amazing the last two weeks. Darlene, you have one of the best group of people that's ever been assembled in South Carolina and Washington. I cannot call them staff. They were family to him. And old Richard Perry, God bless him, he's been with Lindsay since the earth cooled. And he, how many difficult conversations has Richard had? You know, the first time Lindsey ran for Senate, he sat Richard down and said, Richard, 31% of the people in this state are not going to vote for me no matter what. You don't need to worry about it. Don't even try. Richard's sitting there scratching his head thinking, well, I mean, we can try, can't we? I mean, do you have to give up on 31%? Don't worry about it. Six years later, Lindsay's running for re-election. He says, Richard, 42% of the people in this state are not going to vote for me no matter what. Well, Richard's a smart guy. He sees things that are not going in the right direction. And then this last go around, Lindsay said, Richard, 49% of the people in this state are not going to vote for me no matter what. That man had incredible self-awareness. He knew who he was. Tim and I looked at polls, and we see that we're like double-digit disapproval, and we're on the phone with our therapist. Lindsay sees 55-45, and he thinks he's got five points to play with. Was he high-profile? Yes. He just never acted like it. He treated... The boys that parked the golf carts, exactly the same as he did the men who owned the golf course. I walked through a lot of airports with Lindsey Graham. He never failed to stop to thank someone in uniform. And for a man that did not have biological children, he sure followed the teachings of another famous man who did not have biological children by the name of Jesus. I'm on a driving range with Van Cato, and I hear Lindsay talking in a voice that I have never heard him talking before. It was sympathetic, empathetic, and I think, what has happened to my friend? And Van politely tells me he is talking to a child who's getting ready to have surgery. And he was speaking like he was the parent of 12 children. Lindsey Graham was the least pretentious person I have ever seen in politics.

Speaking of that prayer breakfast, I was going to let it go, but I can't. You know, I should listen to my wife. She said, let that one go, Trey, I can't do it. Honey, I'm sorry. Yes, Tim Scott had a prayer breakfast. And there for a while, I mean, back when I was there, there wasn't any talk about your personal sex life at the prayer breakfast. That came later after I love. So, Lindsay was. Sometimes, that's not true. Lindsay was always late. It wasn't sometimes late. He was always late. And Tim had just finished a beautiful sermon, and I was so lucky I had two senators that quoted the Bible. One of them got it right, and one of them wasn't even close. So, Tim asked us to share our favorite Bible verse, and Lindsay stood up there and shared his, and I whispered to Tim, that's actually a line from the movie Gladiator. That's not a Bible verse, but... And then that small county lawyer wowed the jury like I've never seen a preacher do. with the authenticity, the sincerity of his message, the humility of his message. He did more for the calls of Christ without being able to cite a Bible verse just with the authentic way that he presented his relationship with Christ. You know, there are a few things in life less relevant than a former member of Congress. And you do wonder, is anybody going to return your telephone calls? Anybody ever going to call you? When you leave, you go through a period where you just question your relevance. My two senators would not allow that to happen. That man will preach my funeral. And Lindsey Graham spent more time with me after I left the house than when I was his colleague in the house. He took me on trips with him. He took me to see the president of the United States with him. I played more golf with him when I was a non-member of anything than I ever did when I was actually in a position where I could help him.

To my friends in the media or to those on social media, and boy, if I could go back in time and change one thing, I would never have got Lindsay an iPhone. I would have kept that flip phone, and I would, whoever taught him how to use X, there's a special place in purgatory for you. I got to tell to all of Lindsey Graham's critics, he never hated you back. If your goal was for him to treat you the way that some people treated him, you failed. He was the worst at carrying a grudge. I had to keep a list of who we were mad at because he could not remember who had done what. And what speaks to the love and the forgiveness of Christ more. than not carrying a grudge. You know, I saw him cry one time. I saw him get teary-eyed one time, and I saw him cry one time. Darlene, he cried at his retirement ceremony from the Air Force because he loved wearing the uniform of his country. He felt like he was part of something. He had a camaraderie, a spritory, a

And Darley and I saw him get misty-eyed almost every time your name came up, and you don't doubt that he loved you, but I will tell you, even before I really got to know you, I knew one thing about Lindsey Graham, that he loved his baby sister. We were on the 16th T-box at the Country Club of Spartanburg, and I saw Lindsay running back. Well, that's not true. jogging back. Let me get this, he was briskly walking back to the 15th, to 15th green because he had forgotten something. And I thought it was the quarter that he marked his ball with because I could get him to move pretty quick, but that's not what it was. He had forgotten the putter that your father gave him. And he came back to the 16 T-box, and I'm standing there, Larry, with my son, and he says, and he was misty-eyed. There are three things that matter to me in my life. This putter, because my father gave it to me, the class ring that my mama bought for me, and my baby sister, Arlene. And that was it.

He liked you as much as any brother can like someone who marries their baby sister. That's the nicest way I can put it for you. If only I had known that July 3rd, when our son and you and Lindsay and I played that round of golf that it would be the last time I would ever see, if only I had known. But we don't know, and that's kind of the point, isn't it? That's what Lindsay would tell us. Folks, I was talking to Sean Hannity, and Sean said, what do you think Lindsay would say if he was speaking at our service? And I said, well, Sean, they'd have to beam him in from Saudi Arabia. He would be at our service. Are you kidding me? If he were to be beamed in, he would say, those flowers are beautiful. I would love to have seen them when I still could. Send the flowers when people can see him. And he would be so overwhelmed with the outpouring of love that has been visited upon him and his legacy and his family over the last two weeks. He'd be overwhelmed. But my heart breaks because he didn't get to hear more of it when he actually could have heard it. So what Lindsay would say is send flowers to people when they can still smell and tell people you love them when they can still hear you. Last thing he said to me, Larry, you were in the parking lot, I was in the parking lot. He just was with one of my children, but he said, tell the other child, Abigail, hello, tell Terry, hello. He loved my wife, love my wife. And I will call you when I get home. That is the last word that crossed his lips to me was home. Lindsay, you are home. Literally, figuratively, you are back in your beloved South Carolina, and you will soon be laid to rest in your hometown.

You know, in conclusion, Lindsey was fascinated with life after Congress, probably because he knew he would never experience it. He would be walking the halls of the Senate until he was taken home by the Lord. So he was fascinated, Sean, that people would pay us to read a teleprompter. He was fascinated that people would actually pay to hear the same boring speech that we gave for free when we were members. of Congress. So we spent a lot of time talking about what life after Congress was like because he never would have gotten to experience it. And he knew this. I gave 95 speeches. I've given 95 speeches since I left. Different states, different groups, different topics. One common denominator. Started every one of them. with a joke about Lindsey Graham. You only pick on people that you love, so I wanted there to be no doubt that I love that man. So I won't tell the joke, but I will never tell it again. I will give you a glimpse, and then we will draw this to an end. I tell this joke about three of my friends going to heaven and violating the rules of heaven. John Boehner was one of them. He broke into a CVS and stole some cigarettes and some self-tanding lotion, and he was chained to Roseanne Barr. And then I said Marco Rubio violated the rules of heaven. He broke into Mary Magdalene's apartment to steal some high-hill boots in case he ever ran for president again. He was chained to Richard Simmons. with a three-foot long chain. And then the punch line is, and then I see my friend Lindsey Graham, and he's chained to Cindy Crawford. And in a voice as loud as thunder, I hear, Cindy Crawford, you have violated the rules of heaven. And this is your punishment for all of eternity. And I never once had that joke not work. And I will never. Again, tell it. Because he's not chained to anybody. He is in the arms of his Lord and Savior. He is surrounded by the love of his parents, Darlane. And he is home. He is home.

I loved you. You made me laugh. You made me think. Maybe you want to jump out of airplanes. You got me fine by the FCC when you came on my show. And you have made me cry a lot over the last two weeks. But I want you to know, brother, that your name will echo through the halls of history. In your state and your country, they loved you. And your family and your friends, they loved you. And I wish you could have been here to listen to how much people loved and respected you. I will do what you would have wanted me to do, which is take care of your sister. That is all you would have asked me to do. Take care of your sister. And that is what I will do. And then one day I will see you again, and we can laugh, and we can fight. And we'll do it forever. And all of you turn into you. And until that day, I will miss you with my whole heart. God bless you, brother. That was former Congressman Trey Gowdy, who is currently a Fox News host.

As we prepare to conclude the service, I would ask that you remain at your seats until the Minister of Music has dismissed you. Following the benediction, the family is going to recess behind the casket, after which the Honor Guard will prepare to escort Senator Graham's remains from the sanctuary to street level. And once the family has exited the sanctuary down to the cars, behind the casket, you'll be dismissed. Thank you for joining us today. Thank you for your continued prayers for Darline, for Senator Graham's family, and his staff, and all those who will mourn in the days ahead. Now receive this blessing from the word of the Lord. The Lord will protect you from all evil. He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and you're coming in from this time, forth, and forever. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension. will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. Well, we're here at Zion Cemetery right now, just off of Main Street, where you announce those closures. Beginning tomorrow at 3 p.m., only Graham's family and security personnel will be allowed inside. Town officials say this is to honor the family's request for having a private burial service. You can see that Graham's burial plot is just steps away from Main Street where we are. And if you take a look over here, you'll also see that this plot has already been prepared for tomorrow. A tarp laid over that plot and tent set up ready to welcome family. It gives everybody hope that you can come from a very small town and do big things. Central resident Debbie Peek runs her business in the same building that was once Graham's childhood home and his family store. She remembers running into the late senator. at a Charleston restaurant. And we talked about my grandparents. He knew my whole family. I felt like it meant a lot to him, too, that we made that little connection from home from so far away. That hometown connection never left him. Marilyn Bellotti traveled from Charleston to pay her respects. She wanted to see where he was being buried. I thought he was a really sensible man, and we're really going to miss him. Residents say they're honored. He chose to come home. I think it is amazing. I love the fact that he wanted to come home. It means a lot because he did so much for our country. The town is working with local, state, and federal agencies to prepare for every possibility, including protests. You got to remember that Senator Lindsey Graham was a politician and not everybody agreed with everything that he did. We're just making sure that everything's going to go smoothly for the family. Robin Boyle covered Graham during his early political career at the Seneca Journal. He had a little temper to him, but he also was very soft-spoken, very southern gentlemanly. And so he has this dichotomy. For many here, their support for Graham never wavered. My whole family's always supported, and we're military.

We've always supported him. He supported us. And even in death, some say Graham will continue supporting Central. I travel all over the state of South Carolina, and I tell people I live in Central and they go, oh, is that somewhere around Columbia? So now I can say it's Central. It's where Senator Graham has been buried. So he's going to help put us on the map. Yes, we're here right now on the corner of Church and Main Street. And I'm going to get out of the way because we were just told that Lindsey Graham and the procession has just left that funeral home. And that's less than a mile from where we are standing. So any minute now, we should be seeing his hearse coming down at Church Street underneath this American flag. People are lined up along Church Street. It may be difficult to see them behind the fire trucks waving American flags, but they are ready. to greet their hometown neighbor and welcome him back home. And from where you are looking at right now, you cannot see it. But behind us, over the railroad trucks are quite a few people, cars, golf carts, people waiting for the senator to come down. One of the people I see who's holding an American flag right now is standing next to a gentleman I spoke with just yesterday. And he is a former reporter and he says he did one of the first interviews with Lindsey Graham. So just a lot of support right now. People waiting for him to come down. And I will say once he does make his way down Church Street, he will make a left on West Main Street and go past the building where he grew up in, where his house was, his childhood home with his sister, Darlene, and the building where it also served as the store for his parents. And where we are is less than, not only just a less than a mile from the funeral home, we're less than a mile from Mount Zion Cemetery. And I'm going to, I'm going to be quiet right now because people, it looks like, are ready and waiting for the senator to make his way pretty soon.

It seems like these local officials are still waiting for that procession to arrive. Our town officials have told us that we do know that his hearse will be making his way down Church Street. We're unsure if the entire motorcade will be coming down this way. at this moment. Oh, and I can also see an Israel flag waving in the background. And we know that Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about Graham just yesterday at those funeral services in D.C. Again, any minute now, we should be seeing that possession or at least the Hearst coming down here. The only thing that you can really hear right now besides the reporters talking is just like the hum of the fire engines at the moment and I really think that silence speaks to the power of this crowd because there are people here. You may not see him on your screen at the moment because of all the security, but they are here to support him and clearly they are giving him the respect that they feel he deserves. Again, we are told that he is on his way. They just left the funeral home, which is less than a mile from where we are standing. We did see a canine just come out so some additional security. As people wait and get ready, you may notice a group of people on the side holding medium size, small American flag, the big American flag, and of course, that beautiful large one that the local fire officials put up over Church Street. And Rachel said this probably just about an hour ago, but if there's any reflection of the big heart in this small town, it is that big American flag. So many people here to... pay their respects and remember the person that so many of them had personal interactions with almost every single person i've met with in central and around central have met Lindsey Graham or knew him growing up someone i recently spoke with said that they were in a charleston restaurant recently and they were a little nervous but they came up to him and said hi lindsay i'm from your hometown and they started talking and it turned out who knew all of their grandparents Every single person who had memories of him said that they never forgot his name. And that includes the town administrator who's really been helping to organize this with all of the town officials as Lindsey Graham comes here. He said that in one of the recent Christmas parades, the senator came up to him and he knew his name. He said, you know, I had only met him about once or twice, but it just goes to show really how much he never forgot about his roots. and his hometown. Now after his motorcade does come down or at least his first comes down Church Street, he will make his way to Mount Zion Cemetery. That's where his family burial plot is. And it's just been about a week that the town has been cleaning

up and making it ready, preparing it for this small private service for his family. Earlier in the week, we saw it get cleaned up. And just today, we also saw that the headstone for his parents was revealed again. His parents both will be next to their son as he comes back home. and engraved on that headstone. It says great love lives on. And many people who have come to pay their respects at the cemetery say that that really has struck them. So a lot of emotion here as we wait for the senator to make his final drive past here. If you do want to see and visit the cravesite for Lindsey Graham, you will have to Okay, we're being told that he that his horse just passed the cemetery. Again, that's less than a mile from where we are. So it should be pretty soon when we see that first come down. Again, a town official just telling me right now that they just drove past Mount Zion Cemetery. So we're going to stay here on this shot. We want to make sure you get the opportunity to see that final ride that former Senator Lindsey Graham has down at Church Street onto West Main Street, a place where his roots are not just his personal roots, but his political roots. This American flag that you're looking at right now is a fire department. And behind that. fire department is the old town council building town hall we know is about a mile from where we're standing it's a beautiful building but when Lindsey Graham was the city attorney here he would meet in the small little brick building behind this fire department I've been able to look at some old meeting minutes from the 80s and 90s and his name is there just a very present person in all of this and the mayor who I was speaking with earlier brought brought up again how grateful they are that just about two months ago, the late senator, he helped them get $2 million to build a new fire department. Now that fire department hasn't begun construction just yet. Again, this was only two months ago. He said at first he was so surprised with the generosity. And then of course, after much thought, he said, well, you know, I'm not surprised because he has always been here. for our town. So of course he would do this. We just saw a few people move out of the street along Church Street. A fire vehicle is still there. It looks like law enforcement are making sure this is clear. So behind that,

fire that fire vehicle that red truck you see it that's going to be close to Warner Street Warner Street is right in front of the fire department on the corner where you see those American flags and we're told that is where the first will come down from and make a left on to Church Street before making a left on to West Main Street so it should be pretty soon again we were told that just a minute or so ago they did pass Mount Zion Cemetery that's where his family is and people have been coming throughout two weeks to pay their respect yesterday I met a woman there who drove all the way from Charleston with her friends okay and it looks like we do have that motorcade beginning to come through so I'm just gonna take a moment and like let you take this moment in excuse me. It's a bit emotional being here today to really see how many people are here to honor him, how slow they went. as they made that final turn down Main Street. And any minute now, actually any second, he's probably driving by his old family house, his old family store where he used to live on West Main Street. I recently just today was speaking with a woman who owns a business in that old store. She's there right now on the street, paying her respect. Senator Graham. now out of our site at the moment that motorcade. almost out of our site down West Main Street and we do know that they will be at Mount Zion Cemetery in any minute that is closed off to the public at this moment but it was it will be a small burial procession as his family makes their way there too so just a lot happening right now a lot of pride here in Central and I can't wait to tell you more about the amazing people and the support that they have had for him not just over the last two weeks since his death, but really his entire lifetime. But for now, we're putting live in Central. Alexa Urbach, Box Carolina News. Back to you.