Tales from the Trail

In one of the most poignant moments of the funeral service for Ted Kennedy on Saturday,  the youngest members of the Kennedy clan offered up prayers for some of the causes dearest to the late senator’s heart.

Max Allen, one of Kennedy’s youngest grandchildren, offered up a prayer:

“For what my grandpa called ‘the cause of his life.’  As he said so often: ‘In every part of this land that every American will have decent quality healthcare as a fundamental right and not a privilege.’”

Other Kennedy children mentioned his work with the poor and to ensure that all people are respected for what they can do.

His niece Kym Smith prayed:

“For my uncle’s stand against violence, hate and war. And his belief that peace can be kept, through the triumph of justice and that truest justice can come only through the works of peace.”

His youngest namesake, Teddy Kennedy III, ended the section of prayers with one referring to his grandfather’s support of President Barack Obama during last year’s presidential campaign:

“For my grandfather’s brave promise last summer that ‘the work begins anew, the hope rises again and the dream lives on.’”

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Photo credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder (Ted Kennedy III speaks at his grandfather’s funeral)