Cache Valley resident gets a first hand look at Pres. Carter lying in state

PROVIDENCE – One Cache Valley resident is getting an up close and personal view of former President Jimmy Carter lying in state at the U.S. Capitol.

A 2023 Ridgeline High School graduate who lived in Providence, Austin C. Monaco, was selected as one of the Honor Guards at former President Jimmy Carter’s procession and funeral in Washington, D.C., Tuesday Jan. 7 through Jan. 9.

President Carter’s body is lying in state at the Capitol Rotunda where the public can visit and honor his memory. The viewing will be available until the morning of January 9.

Monaco, a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps, was there when the President’s casket arrived and has served on several shifts as an honor guard.

“This has been one of my proudest moments of my life,” he said. “I’m representing not only my branch of the military, but my family and my country by honoring Jimmy Carter and everything he did in his life.”

The guards have half hour shifts and Monaco did two Tuesday and was on track to do five Wednesday. There are different teams from the different branches of service that participate as honor guards.

“I was there for the wreath ceremony and his arrival,” he said. “I was there when Kamala Harris spoke, and I should be on shift when POTUS-elect will be there.”.

Monaco said he was going to Utah State University studying history and secondary education when the cost of going to college was getting expensive. He started to think of the future. Last April he joined the Marine Corps.

“I wanted to serve something bigger than myself and serve the county I love,” he said. “The experience was more than I thought it would be. It’s been amazing.”

Monaco first went to Camp Pendleton near San Diego and graduated from the school of infantry.

His proud father, Thomas Monaco, is a USDA-Scientist at Utah State and has been watching for his son on YouTube and PBS the last couple of days.

“His first assignment was to Washington D.C. to the 8^th & I Barracks, the oldest active post in the Marine Corps,” he said. “It was established by President Thomas Jefferson.”

The Marines at the 8^th & I Barracks focus on the security ceremony, they deal with anything in the area for inaugurations, retirements, funerals and other public ceremonies.

Monaco has four siblings that live in Cache Valley.

President Carter’s funeral will take place on Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. President Joe Biden is expected to deliver the eulogy at the service set to begin at 11:00 a.m. Other family members and dignitaries will also participate in the ceremony to pay their respects.