On a chilly January day in 1919, grieving friends, family members, and political confidants gathered in Oyster Bay, New York. The quaint Long Island area was the site for President Theodore Roosevelt’s funeral. Though his presidency ended 10 years earlier in 1909, Roosevelt’s impact still affected those closest to him and a country forever indebted to his accomplishments. These included overseeing the building of the Panama Canal—a key trading point—and the establishment of America’s national parks system.
A teary-eyed former President William Taft and around 500 guests gathered inside Christ Episcopal Church. Thousands of civilians gathered outside to pay their respects. Before President Roosevelt was laid to rest at Youngs Memorial Cemetery, a song was played in his honor—one the former commander-in-chief chose before his passing. It remains a beloved hymn in the states today.
