Following Saturday's private burial service at Arlington National Cemetery, the public got its first chance to visit Sen. Edward Kennedy's gravesite on Sunday.
A long line formed as people passed by the simple marker and white cross. Some visitors waited as long as 30 minutes to get a look. They said they wanted to pay tribute to a man who gave his life to public service.
The late senator's grave is about 100 feet from the grave of his brother Robert F. Kennedy and about 200 feet from the grave of his brother John F. Kennedy. Those distances are necessitated by underground infrastructure already in place.
The limousine bearing Kennedy's remains stopped in Washington near the steps of the Senate where thousands of people gathered to pay a final tribute Saturday. At least 1,000 current or former congressional staffers gathered to honor the late senator. More than half of them are current and former Kennedy staffers.
Nearby, thousands more well-wishers stood on the Capitol lawn under shade trees or umbrellas.
Several senators were in the crowd, among them Democrat Robert Byrd, of West Virginia, the longest serving senator in history.
People lined Constitution Avenue from the Capitol to the cemetery Saturday to view the procession.
Kennedy's remains were brought to Washington after his funeral in Boston.
