American statesman Bob Dole laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery

Former Senate Republican Leader Bob Dole -- a decorated World War II veteran and presidential candidate who served in Congress for 36 years -- was laid to rest with military honors on Wednesday afternoon at historic Arlington National Cemetery.

Dole was buried in Section 4 at Arlington with views of the National Mall, U.S. Capitol Building and Air Force Memorial.

He died on Dec. 5, 2021, after announcing last February that he'd been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and was starting treatment.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley kneeled to give Dole's wife of 46 years, former Cabinet secretary and North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole, a folded U.S. flag during the burial service. Dole's daughter, Robin, was also sitting front row for the invitation-only, graveside funeral along with family members, close friends and former colleagues.

According to cemetery officials, a team of seven riflemen fired a three-volley salute was conducted to honor Dole.

Dole was given the rare honor to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda late last year before his body was taken to his home state of Kansas for memorials and then back to Washington, where he'll be laid to rest Wednesday afternoon alongside American war heroes.

A native of Russell, Kansas, Dole served as an army officer in World War II and was severely wounded in action at age 21, left with permanent limited mobility in his right arm. Overcoming adversity, Dole went on to graduate law school, serve in the Kansas legislature, and represent his home state for four terms in the House of Representatives and five terms in the Senate, where he led the Republican Conference for more than a decade.

In Congress, he was an advocate for the rights of veterans and Americans with disabilities, spearheading the inclusion of protections against discrimination in employment, education and public services in the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. Dole also served as national chairman of the World War II Memorial Campaign which raised funds for the World War II Memorial to be built on the National Mall.

He ran three times for president, ultimately winning the Republican party nomination in 1996 but losing the general election to Bill Clinton, who was seeking a second term. Months later, Clinton presented Dole with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House.

In a USA Today op-ed he finished on pen and paper less than two weeks before his death, Dole wrote Congress needs teamwork now more than ever, writing, "Those who suggest that compromise is a sign of weakness misunderstand the fundamental strength of our democracy."