WASHINGTON — The Rev. Billy Graham, who has met with every president since Harry Truman, is being honored at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
Graham is the first private citizen to lie in honor since civil rights hero Rosa Parks in 2005.
The Rotunda is where the U.S. pays tribute to its most important and influential people, including former presidents.
Graham died last week at the age of 99. His funeral is scheduled for Friday in Charlotte.
The family of Rev. Billy Graham watches as the casket of Rev. Billy Graham is carried up the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, where it will lie in honor in the Rotunda. It’s a rare honor for a private citizen to lie in honor at the Capitol. Graham died Wednesday in his sleep at his North Carolina home. He was 99.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool
President Donald Trump talks to Franklin Graham during a ceremony honoring Reverend Billy Graham in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building, Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
President Donald Trump participates in a ceremony honoring Reverend Billy Graham in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building, Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
The body of Rev. Billy Graham, who died last week at age 99, lies in the Capitol Rotunda as President Donald Trump, officials and dignitaries pay tribute to America’s most famous evangelist, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, in Washington. The North Carolina-born farm boy became a media-savvy Southern Baptist minister and spiritual adviser to numerous presidents, reaching millions around with the world with his rallies — or what he called “crusades” — through his pioneering use of television.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
The body of Rev. Billy Graham is carried into the Capitol Rotunda where he will lie in honor as President Donald Trump, officials and dignitaries pay tribute to America’s most famous evangelist, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, in Washington. The North Carolina-born farm boy became a media-savvy Southern Baptist minister and spiritual adviser to numerous presidents, reaching millions around with the world with his rallies — or what he called “crusades” — through his pioneering use of television.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
The body of Rev. Billy Graham, who died last week at age 99, is carried into the Capitol Rotunda where he will lie in honor as President Donald Trump, officials and dignitaries pay tribute to America’s most famous evangelist, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, in Washington.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Visitors pay their respects as the casket of Rev. Billy Graham lies in honor at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018.
(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
Visitors arrive to pay their respects as the casket of Rev. Billy Graham lies in honor at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building.
From right, President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Karen Pence, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., participate in a ceremony honoring Reverend Billy Graham in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building, Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Washington.
(Chip Somodevilla/Pool via AP)
Chip Somodevilla/Pool via AP
The family of Rev. Billy Graham watches as the casket of Rev. Billy Graham is carried up the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, where it will lie in honor in the Rotunda. It’s a rare honor for a private citizen to lie in honor at the Capitol. Graham died Wednesday in his sleep at his North Carolina home. He was 99.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool
A Military Honor Guard carries the casket of Reverend Billy Graham as it arrives at the US Capitol in Washington, Feb. 28, 2018, prior to a lying in honor ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda.
(Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)
Saul Loeb/Pool via AP
President Donald Trump, center, greets Franklin Graham, as he arrives for the ceremony honoring his father, the Reverend Billy Graham, in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building, Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., foreground, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., center and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., right and waits for the ceremony to begin honoring Reverend Billy Graham in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building, Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, arrive to participate in a ceremony honoring Reverend Billy Graham in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building, Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump present a wreath as the body of Rev. Billy Graham lies in honor, during a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, in Washington.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
President Donald Trump arrives to participate in a ceremony honoring Reverend Billy Graham in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building, Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Attorney General Jeff Sessions, center, talks to Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., and others, as they wait for the ceremony to begin honoring Reverend Billy Graham in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building, Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
A Capitol Police K-9 unit works security as a line forms for the public viewing of the late Rev. Billy Graham at the Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Military members practice placing a casket in the Rotunda of the Capitol, on Feb. 27, 2018 in Washington, for the late Rev. Billy Graham to lie in honor. President Trump, Congressional leaders and the Graham family will be in attendance.
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
Crews prepare for the late Rev. Billy Graham to be honored Wednesday in the Rotunda of the Capitol Building.
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
Graham will be honored Wednesday in the Rotunda of the Capitol Building.
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
Visitors will be allowed to pay their respects to Graham beginning at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)