Ed and Erin Finklea went to Washington D.C. for Carter memorial observances

By Ed Finklea

One afternoon in December 1980 the office where I worked got a call from the White House. Everyone who worked for the Council on Wage and Price Stability, where I had been a law clerk since June, could go to the Oval Office that afternoon and get our picture with President Carter. Our office was in the flow chart of the Executive Office of the President. Carter was doing this for everyone that worked for him. He probably had more important things to do that stand for pictures, but he did.

My wife Erin and I have long hoped that we could stand at his coffin when he lies in State. This Wednesday, Jan. 8,^, we will do so. His death on Dec. 29, 2024, at the age of 100 is a landmark moment in American history. I will always feel my generation has lost one of our best leaders, the one who wasn’t good enough when we had him, but we have needed ever since.

His death at this time also reminds me vividly of what led to his being so soundly defeated by Reagan that fall in 1980. How Ted Kennedy ran against Carter in the primary, even though Carter was trying to negotiate the freeing of the hostages in Iran. How Carter just didn’t seem to have sent enough helicopters into the dessert that night when he tried in rescue the hostages. How John Anderson ran as a third-party candidate, and gave Reagan an easier path to the White House.

It’s almost a cliché now that Carter’s years after the White House will distinguish him forever among past presidents. He and Rosalynn created The Carter Center, Habitat for Humanity, tried to eradicate guinea worm, and the list goes on. He stayed a Sunday School teacher in Plains, Georgia, until he just couldn’t. He faced his ailments with courage and lived in hospice for more than 20 months. Hard to argue that being more like Jimmy and Rosalynn wouldn’t hurt any of us.

So we are off to our nation’s capital to pay our respects to a person who had a profound impact on my life by posing for a picture and everyone’s life by being himself. Rest in Peace James Earl Carter Junior.

Jan. 9 update

It is rarely colder or more snow-covered in Washington, D.C., than it has been the past two days as Erin and I paid our respects to former President Carter. Yesterday, Jan. 8, we viewed his casket lying in State in the Rotunda. A solemn, sacred and patriotic moment to show deep gratitude to a true American hero.  Majesty for a very humble person.

Today we made our way in the cold to the National Cathedral, where the wind swept the fresh snow over the grounds. Several motorcades passed us as we stood at a corner. Outside the Cathedral we listened on our phones to the service. Jimmy Carter believed in serving humanity above himself, like I have learned from my fellow Rotarians. Jimmy’s faith was a verb, like Goggle is now. Serve the greater good and work to improve human lives and our planet. That’s what Jimmy said and did and is what Erin and I hope to take back to Ashland.

— Ed Finklea

Over the last two days my husband and I have experienced one of America’s best moments. People from “all over” came together to honor a past President. No special ticket or entry fee. We were welcomed into the Rotunda of the US Capitol to review his casket, sign his guest book and receive a remembrance card. I think America  is one of the few countries where common people have such freedom.

What makes me happy, what surprised me most was the number of young people (20s, 30s, 40s) who attended. I heard “I was 3 when he was elected” and “I was 11.” They didn’t know much about the 39th President, but they knew this event is a big deal, something they should experience. As a retired social studies teacher, these experiences give me hope for our future. Caring Americans have come together for a moment in the U.S.A. Something bigger than all the other activities they could have been doing brought them out in the cold to pay their respects to a President. Some that came never knew his Presidency, but understand that he provided our country with significant leadership.

— Erin K. Finklea

Ed and Erin Finklea have lived in Ashland since October 2015. Ed is a retired attorney and Erin is a retired social studies middle school teacher. Live in Ashland and have a connection to the late President Carter? Email us at news@ashland.news.

Jan. 5: Updated with photos taken by the Finkleas in Washington, D.C., where they arrived Saturday.

Jan. 14: Jan. 9 update added.