Farewell to Camelot

Many remembered other Kennedy deaths and spoke about where they were when they heard about the assassination of JFK or Robert Kennedy. Others reflected on the tragic history of the entire Kennedy clan.

Eileen Colihan, who had travelled with her sister, was awaiting the arrival of her mother and brother from Pennsylvania for a family celebration of the Kennedy legacy tonight. "My family were very into the Kennedys," she said. "They have done so much for the country. This is a bittersweet occasion. We are here to celebrate this life. I think his family will take real comfort from the number of people lining the streets. This is part of American history."

Her mother Julia Colihan, originally from County Limerick, added: "You cannot overestimate the importance of this family if you are Irish. We just needed to say goodbye."

Among the mourners there was a group of George Washington University freshmen who had arrived in the capital, checked into their dorms, and come directly to Arlington to spend their first weekend as DC residents paying tribute to Kennedy. Freshman Jenny Suzdak said: "Healthcare is such a big issue. I share his beliefs. I hope his death doesn't make it lose momentum."

Her friend, Sarah Hasenfuss, said: "It's a historic experience. Especially on our first weekend here in DC, we couldn't be here and not come to say goodbye to him. My dad was a big Kennedy supporter. He lives in Pennsylvania - he said please go for me'. Now everybody in my family has gone through a Kennedy death."

John Fenech was one of many who addressed Senator Kennedy's long term support for healthcare reform. He said: "Hopefully people will gather together to drive forward some of his ideals. My mum says she remembers when JFK died, she was sent home from school and everyone was distraught."

Yesterday afternoon, Washington became the focus of the nation's grief. Boston is where the Kennedy family's political roots lay - but the capital is where the Kennedy reputation was forged. And the city in which Edward Kennedy plied the political skills that made him one of the most powerful of America's senators came out in force to pay its respects to him.

Outside the Capitol Building where Ted Kennedy served his country for nearly half a century, crowds began to form soon after 8am.

Mike Pellerin, a native of Connecticut now living in DC, had been waiting since early Saturday morning. He said: "I think he was a remarkable man who did remarkable things which benefited all of all human kind. He's a special guy. I was lucky to meet him a few times. I met him in the Kennedy compound where he was sailing and we got chatting. I have been walking around here a few hours and have been thinking of him and his legacy. This was a man who did kind things for people whether he knew them or not."

Carolyn Snyder from Virginia had left her home before 9am to come early to Washington to say goodbye. She said: "He was such a delightful person, charming. He had these incredible values shaped by everything he had been through. He lived with such grace and dignity with all his family traumas. He was an all round gentleman - very well loved. It was important for me to be here today."

For many, saying goodbye to Teddy Kennedy was a way of paying tribute to the family which did so much to shape 20th Century American life.

Allan Donnelly from Maryland said: "I am an Irish Catholic, too. I followed the entire Kennedy saga all my entire life. I've been here since 8am. I just needed to say goodbye."

At the gates of Arlington, a tiny band of protestors held up posters condemning Kennedy's stance on abortion and gay rights, but they were vastly outnumbered by those who had come to pay tribute to a man who fought for a raft of liberal causes in the US.

Iraq War veteran Bill Henderson, in uniform, seemed to speak for many when he said: "They were everyone's family."

Many mourners reflected the Kennedys' status as the first family of Irish America. Some carried Shamrocks. Julie Ide and Maura Keaney had taken an Irish tricolour with them. Julie said: "I'm Irish American. Growing up we revered the Kennedys." At home her family made poster that read The world weeps. We love you'.

Kay Wilson from Virginia said: "The Kennedys were Irish and Catholic and Democrats - we were Irish Catholics and Democrats."

But the mourners came from every part of America, and every section of American society. Roberto Jordon and his son Allan had made a makeshift sign with the words Teddy: RIP buddy' written on it.

Roberto, originally from El Salvador, explained: "I wanted to show my son that we need to respect the leaders of this country. If you look through his life Senator Kennedy made many missteps but he didn't let that put him down. He grew stronger - and he used that strength to help people who were immigrants to this country and to make their lives better."

From the mouth of Arlington it is possible to see down the route to the Capitol building.

As it became clear that the Kennedy cavalcade was running late, and that the private graveside ceremony would have to hold off until the crowd waiting on the steps of the Capitol had paid their respects to the man who served his country there for 47 years, no-one complained. Folding chairs and picnic hampers were produced. Conversations started up among those who had little in common except the man they admired and had come to mourn. The crowd in Arlington seemed happy to wait - all night if necessary - for the last brother of an American dynasty to be laid to rest.