WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 44 years after Jimmy Carter departed the nation’s capital in a humbling defeat, the 39th president returns for three days of state funeral rites starting on January 7.

Carter's remains, which have been lying in repose at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, left Saturday morning, accompanied by his children and extended family. Special Air Mission 39 departed Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia, arriving at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. From there, a motorcade brought the casket into Washington for his final journey to the Capitol, where members of Congress are set to pay their respects.

Upon departure from Georgia, eight military pallbearers carried Carter's casket as cannons fired nearby. As they lifted it to the aircraft, the iconic blue and white Boeing 747 variant, known as Air Force One when a sitting president is on board, was present. Notably, Carter never traveled on this plane during his presidency, which began its duties in 1990 with President George H.W. Bush.

The procession that will honor Carter continues outside Washington, where military traditions were observed. His casket was removed from the plane amid military honors, followed by a hearse bearing the presidential seal leading the motorcade toward the Capitol.

A bipartisan delegation of Congress members, led by Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, who represent Carter’s home state of Georgia, welcomed three Supreme Court justices in the Capitol Rotunda. Together, they awaited the casket’s arrival as the US Army Band Brass Quintet played.

Carter, who passed away on December 29 at the age of 100, will lie in state for two nights. His state funeral is scheduled for Thursday at Washington National Cathedral, with President Joe Biden delivering a eulogy. Many rituals that follow a president's death are being performed, including the traditional military honor guard carrying a flag-draped casket up the Capitol steps, as well as the Lincoln catafalque in the Rotunda.

Unique symbolism accompanies Carter's death. As his remains left his presidential center, hymns such as "Amazing Grace" and "Blessed Assurance" were played, reflecting his public Baptist faith when he won the presidency in 1976. Notably, his hearse stopped at the US Navy Memorial to transfer his remains to a horse-drawn caisson — an homage to Carter, the sole US Naval Academy graduate to attain the presidency.

The elaborate ceremony, steeped in historical significance, may carry ironic undertones for the man who transitioned from a peanut farmer to the country’s highest office. Initially elected as a promising reformer, Carter struggled to navigate the intricate political dynamics of Washington between 1977 and 1981. According to biographer Jonathan Alter, “He could be prickly and not very appealing” in an environment that required relationship-building.

Carter often resisted ceremonial protocols. Notably, he sought to prevent the Marine Band from playing “Hail to the Chief,” believing it unduly elevated the role of the presidency. This sentiment was only partly reversed by his advisors, and the anthem played during his cortège.

Posthumously, Carter has been subject to mixed sentiments, especially from political figures like former President Donald Trump, who reflected critically on some of his policies, notably regarding the Panama Canal. Trump emphasized his personal regard for Carter, declaring, "I liked him as a man," while still expressing disagreement with certain decisions.

For many, however, this moment reflects an appreciation of Carter's lasting legacy in public service and humanitarian work, underscoring the complexities of his presidency.