Thousands of Americans gather at the Capitol to honor former President Carter before his funeral: 'A job well done'

On Wednesday, people from across the nation journeyed to the U.S. Capitol to pay their respects to former President Jimmy Carter, who was being honored with a lying-in-state ceremony prior to his funeral the next day.

Some visitors who spoke with Planet Chronicle while waiting in line to view Carter's casket knew him personally, while others admired the late president.

Catherine from Gaithersburg, Maryland, emphasized the importance of honoring Carter because he was a source of inspiration through his dedication to assisting others.

""One reason I respect him is that he demonstrated to older people that retirement doesn't mean stopping work entirely. Instead, we can utilize our resources and experience to assist others, which is what I aspire to do," she told Planet Chronicle' Rich Edson."

Riley Cagle, a Georgia native, traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the funeral of his dear friend's family member, Carter, who was unable to attend the funeral in Georgia.

Cagle's aunt was one of Carter's best friends and was present when he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His grandparents also knew Carter and shared many "amazing" stories about him, including his love for pineapple sandwiches.

"They didn't make them like him back then either," Cagle said, adding, "Man, they just don't make them like him anymore."

Carter was praised as "the embodiment of a devoted and modest servant" by another visitor from Maryland, who also commended him on his excellent performance.

On Wednesday, at the Capitol, former President Gerald Ford's 1976 campaign employee, Ted McConnell, showed respect for Carter, despite political differences.

McConnell, who was wearing a "Jimmy Carter for president" button, stated that he supports both President Ford and President Carter since they became friends after the presidency.

McConnell honored Carter's humanitarian work by laying him in state on Wednesday.

Another man had a "Jimmy for president" pin, but he volunteered for Carter's campaign as a high schooler and attended his inauguration in 1977.

Eric Stromayer advised Chad Pergram of Planet Chronicle that the lines to view Carter's casket were moving swiftly and urged "those who want to pay their respects to a highly esteemed president, take advantage of this opportunity."

On Thursday at 9 a.m., Carter's casket will be removed from the Rotunda and transported to the Washington National Cathedral for his state funeral, which will take place at 10 a.m.

Later in the day, his remains will be flown to Georgia via Special Air Mission 39 for a private ceremony in his hometown of Plains.

Planet Chronicle' Rich Edson and Chad Pergram contributed to this report.