The state of Missouri is preparing to honor the life and service of one of its own, as former U.S. Senator and Governor Christopher S. "Kit" Bond passed away on Tuesday at the age of 86. Governor Mike Kehoe announced the memorial plans, marking a period of statewide mourning for a figure who dedicated much of his life to political service within the Show-Me State.
According to a statement on the Governor's official website, U.S. and Missouri flags will be flying at half-staff at all government buildings from today until sunset on May 22 - a visible sign of the state's grief for Bond's passing. A proclamation was signed by Governor Kehoe to this effect, signifying the formal commencement of the mourning period.
Members of the public are invited to attend a State Memorial Service set to take place in the Rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol at noon on Tuesday, May 20. The Capitol Rotunda will also host Governor Bond in state, where, following the State Memorial Service, the public can pay their respects for a 24-hour period. The gesture allows citizens to offer their final farewells to a man whose career was entwined with the political fabric of Missouri.
Kit Bond's journey as a public servant was long and noted, serving as Missouri's Governor from 1973 to 1977 and 1981 to 1985, before taking on the role of a U.S. Senator until his retirement in 2011. His death in St. Louis marks the close of a political chapter punctuated by devotion to both his family and his state, in a career that spanned over four decades. Details of the memorial services, including Governor Kehoe's full statement, are available on the Missouri Governor's website.
