THE CASKET OF STROM THURMOND IS CARRIED TO THE CAISSON., 2003-07-01 (photo)

With a large statue of late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond in the foreground, the flag-draped casket of Thurmond (R-SC) is carried down the front steps of the State House building in Columbia, South Carolina July 1, 2003. Thurmond will later be taken to his hometown of Edgefield, South Carolina, where he will be laid to rest. Thurmond died on June 26 at the age of 100 after having been in poor health in recent weeks. He represented the state of South Carolina as a U.S. Senator for 48 of his 100 years, making him the longest serving senator in the nation's history. REUTERS/Ellen Ozier ELO