01:28 • May 17, 2024
On May 16, a bronze statue of Billy Graham was unveiled at the U.S. Capitol where it will serve as a reminder of the Gospel message he preached for decades. It was installed in the Crypt as part of the National Statuary Hall Collection, one level below the Rotunda where every public tour of the Capitol begins.
“Our family is honored that our earthly father will be here in this Capitol, pointing the future generations to our Heavenly Father,” Franklin Graham said.
The 7-foot sculpture, created by Charlotte artist Chas Fagan, stands on a pedestal engraved with two Bible verses—John 3:16 and John 14:6—both referencing Jesus Christ as the only way to eternal life.
Several government officials spoke during the dedication ceremony, each referencing the Good News central to Billy Graham’s preaching.
“Not that Rev. Graham was perfect. He would’ve been the first to tell us that,” said North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. “But he believed, as many of us do, that there is redemption, and he gave his life to delivering that message.”
The ceremony marks a rare privilege for a private citizen. Rosa Parks, President Gerald Ford, and President Ronald Reagan are the only others to receive the three highest honors from Congress: the Congressional Gold Medal (1996), to have lain in honor or state in the Capitol (2018), and have a statue placed in Statuary Hall (2024).