Memorial schedule to honor late GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham announced
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the fiscal year 2023 budget for the FBI in Washington, DC on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (Ting Shen/Pool Photo via AP)
OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
6:30 PM – Friday, July 17, 2026
The official schedule has been established to honor the life and legacy of the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. His office announced that three memorial events will be held later this month, divided between the nation’s capital and his home state of South Carolina.
The tributes are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, July 28th, in Washington, D.C., before moving to South Carolina on Wednesday the next day for separate events in Columbia and Pickens County. While the dates have been locked in, Graham’s office noted that additional specifics, including precise times and venue locations, will be disclosed as plans are finalized.
The scheduling comes following the 71-year-old senator’s sudden passing at his Washington home on July 11th, shortly after returning from an diplomatic visit to Ukraine.
The District of Columbia (D.C.) Medical Examiner’s Office later issued preliminary findings indicating the cause of death was an “aortic dissection brought on by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.” In the immediate aftermath of his death, his congressional staff released a statement to the public to share the news.
The official statement from the Office of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham read: “On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness. Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”
The window between the senator’s passing and the memorial dates was intentionally designed to accommodate the heavy volume of domestic and international dignitaries intending to pay their respects, officials say. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) had previously detailed the moving logistics required to handle the large-scale ceremonies.
“My understanding is as soon as you get through with one here in D.C., they would move very quickly to have a funeral service in South Carolina, probably within one day, but no more than two days,” Scott said.
The consecutive dates track the arc of a long political career that began in the backroom of a small-town family bar in Central, South Carolina, and extended to the highest corridors of American legislative power.
Tributes from prominent political allies and colleagues have continued to pour in since the announcement of his passing. President Donald Trump, who maintained a close and influential partnership with Graham on Capitol Hill, expressed his grief shortly after the news broke.
In a social media post, Trump wrote: “Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead! He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!! DETAILS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO FOLLOW. So sad!” Governor Henry McMaster (R-S.C.) also shared his condolences, describing himself and his wife, Peggy, as “devastated” by the recent loss.
In his official statement, McMaster emphasized that Graham was a “steadfast friend” and “the fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America,” adding “We grieve with Darline, his family and his devoted staff … May God hold him gently in the palm of his hand. We shall not see his likes again.”
Graham’s political “footprint” extended far beyond Washington and South Carolina, drawing statements of mourning from international leaders. Notably, he had just concluded his tenth trip to Kyiv since the 2022 invasion to advocate for more defense measures.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Graham was “a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer.” The Ukrainian president also noted that “America and the world have lost a determined leader,” adding that he would miss their back-and-forth conversations.
As the state prepares for the upcoming tributes, Governor McMaster has appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to temporarily fill the vacancy in the Senate until a successor is officially chosen in the November general election.
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