Following the release of funeral plans for the late former US Senator Bob Dole, President Joseph Biden has extended the display of flags lowered to honor Dole.

In an announcement released Thursday, December 9, Biden said Proclamation 10320, released December 5, “is amended by deleting in the first sentence the words ‘until sunset on December 9, 2021’ and inserting in their place the words ‘through Saturday, December 11.’”

Flags across the country were lowered earlier this week following the news of Dole’s death on Sunday, December 5. The former senator in February had announced a diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer.

The casket for the late 98-year-old is currently within the Rotunda of the US Capitol, where Dole is lying in state. The president and others gathered December 9 to pay tribute to the “American giant,” as Biden called the late Senator and Presidential candidate in his original proclamation.

“For those like me who had the honor of calling him a friend, Bob Dole was an American giant,” Biden said Wednesday, December 8, in a speech in Kansas City, Mo.

Dole was the last World War II veteran to have been the presidential nominee of a major party.

According to the Associated Press, Biden entered the Capitol and a military escort carried Dole’s casket draped with the American flag into to the Rotunda earlier this morning. A private memorial service was planned for 10 am with invited guests and congressional leaders.

Black draperies hung on doorways under the Capitol dome in preparation for the service. About 100 chairs were set up, socially distanced for COVID-19 protocols.

Memorial events celebrating the life of the former senator and will continue to the weekend in his home state of Kansas.

A funeral service is planned for Friday, December 10, at Washington National Cathedral. President Biden will speak at that service, according to a statement released by The Elizabeth Dole Foundation. The service will begin at 11 am and will be livestreamed.

The public will then have an opportunity to pay their respects to Dole, at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. The Senator’s motorcade will pause at the memorial at 1:15 pm for a ceremony with Senator Elizabeth Dole and speakers Gen Mark A. Milley, 20th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the actor Tom Hanks, and NBC News Journalist Savannah Guthrie.

Following the WWII Memorial ceremony, the late Senator and his family will begin their journey home to Kansas. Dole's casket is set to arrive in Kansas on Friday evening.

A service is planned for Saturday morning in Russell, Kan. Dole’s casket will then be moved to Kansas State Capitol to its position of repose. Following a public ceremony, the casket and Dole’s family will return to Washington, D.C. Internment details are forthcoming.

Flags may be raised to full staff Saturday evening.