Ted Kennedy Arrives at JFK Library as Thousands Pay Their Respects

Aug. 27, 2009— -- Amid thousands of mourners, a military honor guard carried the body of Sen. Ted Kennedy into the Boston library named for his slain brother Thursday evening, where he will lie in repose for the next two days.

Led by his widow Vicki, Kennedy family members followed the casket into the John F. Kennedy Library, where they spent a few private moments alone before the public could enter the building to pay their respects.

Kennedy's body was escorted to Boston by a motorcade of family members that left his seaside home in Hyannis Port this afternoon. A long black column of limousines filled with three generations of Kennedys followed the hearse carrying the flag-draped coffin for the three-hour drive from Hyannis Port.

As the motorcade arrived in Boston, thousands of mourners lined the route and cars pulled over to watch the passing hearse.

Boston residents applauded as the cortege wound its way through the center of the city.

The motorcade left for Boston following a private family mass held in a room overlooking the ocean. Reporters and neighbors lined the streets outside the home's white picket fence. A flag flew at half-staff in the center of a circular driveway and a military honor guard placed Kennedy's casket into the hearse.

The Kennedy family, including his wife Vicki, stood quietly watching the casket placed in the hearse. Some family members wiped away tears from their eyes.

Today's motorcade journey set off three days of official ceremonies to mourn the passing of the senator whose career was marked by scandal and triumph during his 47 years in the Senate.

Kennedy's body will lie in repose at the John F. Kennedy Library through Saturday, where civilian and military honor guards will join family members and friends for an around-the-clock vigil. On Saturday, a funeral mass will be held at a Catholic church in Boston where he will be eulogized by President Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain.

ABC News will provide live coverage of Saturday's funeral beginning at 10:30am ET.