WASHINGTON — Rep. John Lewis spent one last night in D.C. Tuesday before being taken to Georgia for his burial. As the "conscience of Congress" lay in state on the steps of the Capitol for one final night, a double rainbow appeared above the dome.
WUSA9's Mike Valerio captured a photo of the rainbows that seemed to be gracefully placed over the building where the late congressman served for more than three decades.
Thousands of people came to pay their respects to Lewis, a former civil rights leader who became a politician later in life, representing Atlanta in the House of Representatives.
Lewis died July 17 at the age of 80 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
After services in Troy, Alabama and a processional to the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma over the weekend, the late congressman landed at Joint Base Andrews Monday morning, where his casket was saluted by the military honor guard.
Lewis' casket was escorted up the East Front Steps of the Capitol by a military honor guard before being placed in the center of the Capitol Rotunda for an invite-only ceremony attended by lawmakers and family.
After two days of observances in D.C., Lewis will lay in state at the Georgia State Capitol starting Wednesday, before he is buried on Thursday.
Both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke about Lewis' lasting legacy.
"In Congress, John was revered and beloved on both sides of the aisle, on both sides of the Capitol," Pelosi said. "He understood the power of young people to change the future ... When John made his speech 57 years ago, he was the youngest speaker at the March on Washington program."