Ted Kennedy 1932-2009

BOSTON (WBZ) ― The Kennedy family escorted the body of Sen. Edward Kennedy into Boston Thursday afternoon, on a 70 mile journey tracing several significant points in his life.

PRIVATE MASS

The day began with a private mass for the family at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port around 12:40 p.m.

Among the mourners at the home were the late senator's wife Vicki, his children, his sole living sister Jean Kennedy, former wife Joan, niece Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former President John F. Kennedy. Also there was Maria Shriver, daughter of his sister Eunice.

The Mass began about 40 minutes late inside the residence, according to pool reporter Jenna Russell of the Boston Globe.

The service was held in the so-called "fun room," a room overlooking the ocean in which the family traditionally holds Mass. The Rev. Donald MacMillan from Boston College officiated. Towards the end of the family service, a round of applause was heard from inside.

THE DEPARTURE

An honor guard of members representing all branches of military service from Washington, D.C., described as "bodybearers" brought Kennedy's casket out of the home at 1:45 p.m.

Raw Video: Kennedy Casket Moved

According to pool reporter Scott Helman of the Boston Globe, Kennedy's daughter, Kara, "briefly wiped away tears, but most family members were stoic with their hands clasped in front of them."

"Some family members touched the hearse softly as they walked by," Helman reported.

The casket was then placed in the hearse at the front of the motorcade, which departed at 2:05 p.m.

THE MOTORCADE ROUTE

The motorcade was due to leave for Boston at 12:30 p.m.  However, so many family members wanted to take the trip, a Peter Pan bus was called in at the last minute to accommodate everyone. A total of 85 Kennedy clan members took the trip from the Cape to Boston.

The motorcade traveled Route 6 across the Sagamore Bridge, where hundreds of members of the public lined the road. The Kennedy family then took Routes 3 and 93 into the city. 

Once reaching Boston, huge crowds lined the streets, applauding as Senator Kennedy's hearse passed them by. Kennedy family members lowered the windows of their limousines and waved.

The tour of Boston passed by significant spots in Kennedy's life, including St. Stephen's Church in the North End, where his mother, Rose, was baptized and her funeral Mass celebrated.

Map: Boston Motorcade Route

It passed over the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, the park Sen. Kennedy joined community leaders in creating that gives mothers and their children green space in the heart of the city.

Sen. Kennedy then passed Faneuil Hall and City Hall Plaza, where Mayor Tom Menino rang a bell 47 times, commemorating each of Kennedy's years in the U.S. Senate.

The motorcade drove past 122 Bowdoin St., where the senator opened his first office as an assistant district attorney, and where President Kennedy lived while running for Congress in 1946.

The family then headed past the JFK federal building, home for decades of Kennedy's Boston office, and then to Dorchester Street and into South Boston and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Dorchester.

LIBRARY ARRIVAL & PUBLIC VIEWING

Upon arrival at the Columbia Point library, a military guard greeted Senator Kennedy and his family. Nearly one hundred Kennedy family members followed the senator's casket into the JFK Library. Inside more than100 current and former staff members greeted him.

The senator will lie in repose at the JFK Library through Friday. Public viewing hours Thursday are from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. By 5 p.m., when the Kennedy family arrived, thousands of people were already in line, circling the library grounds.

Friday's public visiting hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

During that entire time, a military guard will stand by his casket, 24 hours a day. A contingent of family and close friends will take one-hour turns sitting with the senator, during the two days of public visitation. 
 
PRIVATE SERVICES

A private, invitation-only service will be held at the library on Friday evening at 7 p.m., followed by a private Catholic funeral Mass Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Mission Hill. The church, also known as Mission Church, is where Sen. Kennedy prayed daily while his daughter, Kara, successfully battled her own cancer.

While not open to the public, both the memorial service and funeral will have video cameras inside, and WBZ-TV and wbztv.com will have live coverage.

Speakers at Friday's memorial service will include Gov. Deval Patrick; Boston Mayor Thomas Menino; Sen. John Kerry; Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut; Sen. John McCain of Arizona; Vice President Joe Biden; Joseph Kennedy II, Sen. Kennedy's nephew; and the senator's niece, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg.

President Obama will give a eulogy at Saturday's funeral. 

Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush also are expected to attend the Mass at the cavernous basilica.

After the service, the senator's casket will be taken to Logan Airport and flown to the nation's capital, where he will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery in a 5 p.m. service.

President Obama has issued a presidential proclamation ordering the flags on all U.S. public buildings be flown at half-staff in Kennedy's honor, until sunset on Sunday, Aug. 30.

Condolence books have been set out at the JFK Library as well as John F. Kennedy Museum in Hyannis.

In lieu of flowers, the Kennedy family has requested that the public consider making a donation to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate. The Institute is being built on the campus of UMass Boston, adjacent to the JFK Museum on Columbia Point.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

WBZ's Most Popular

• Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2009
• People's Sexiest Men of 2009
• Family Hit In Crosswalk By Driver
• Woman Hits, Kills Moose On Route 3
• Watch Latest Weather Forecast