Ted Kennedy's Last Trip to Capitol Hill

Last updated 7:07 p.m. ET

Edward M. Kennedy, the nine-term Senator from Massachusetts, made his last trip to Capitol Hill today, his casket riding in a motorcade on its way to Arlington National Cemetery.

As his hearse drove up to the Capitol steps, more than a thousand who had gathered broke into loud applause and cheers, honoring the man who was the third longest-serving member of the U.S. Senate in history.

At least 1,000 current or former congressional staffers gathered to honor the late senator. More than half of them are current and former Kennedy staffers.

Nearby, another thousand more well-wishers stood on the Capitol lawn under shade trees or umbrellas.

Several senators were in the crowd, among them Democrat Robert Byrd of West Virginia, the longest serving Senator in history.

Kennedy died Tuesday at 77 after battling brain cancer for more than a year.

Complete coverage of Sen. Kennedy's life and death

While those attending came to pay their respects to the man they'd worked with for more than four decades, his family returned the favor.

"I just want to say on behalf of my brother and sister, how proud my dad was to serve here in the Senate," Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., told the crowd, "and most of all, to know that he couldn't have done it without all of the people that he worked with. He knew that he was only great because he had great people supporting him and he knew the value of good staff and that's why he was so successful.

"And I know that all of you having watched what happened the last three days have to feel good that you are part of his life because this country has outpoured its soul and heart these last few days to say what a difference he's made in the life of this country, and I think
that you all today should be feeling like you are part of that, too, because of all that you have done to be part of the same legacy that he wanted for this country.

"And I hope that you feel some consolation that the many, many hard hours that he put into the nitty-gritty of legislating and policy-making gives you some sense of satisfaction at having done a really important job for this country because that's the legacy he would want you to feel good about, and he would be very proud to see you all out here today paying a final respect and tribute to his memory and I thank you on behalf of my family for being here."

Before the hearse departed for Arlington, the crowd sang "God Bless America" and "America the Beautiful."

The entourage then was to proceed along the National Mall and into Arlington National Cemetery.

Kennedy's body was flown from Boston to Andrews Air Force Base, which also received John F. Kennedy's body after his 1963 assassination.

As evening was falling, Kennedy was to be buried on a hillside near his brothers, John and Robert, who was also felled by an assassin's bullet in 1968.

Earlier today, from his two sons, Ted Kennedy, Jr., and Rep. Patrick Kennedy, and by President Barack Obama, during a two-hour funeral mass in Boston.

"Ted Kennedy's life's work was not to champion those with wealth or power or special connections," Mr. Obama said. "It was to give a voice to those who were not heard, to add a rung to the ladder of opportunity, to make real the dream of our founding."

Mr. Obama called Kennedy "the lion of the United States Senate" and said that "though it is Teddy's historic body of achievements that we will remember, it is his giving heart that we will miss."