Funeral set for congressman John Murtha in western Pa.
By APTuesday, February 16, 2010
Funeral set for John Murtha in Pa.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — The funeral for congressman John Murtha is expected to bring former President Bill Clinton and a congressional delegation led by House speaker Nancy Pelosi to the Pennsylvania Democrat’s hometown of Johnstown.
Murtha will be laid to rest in a private burial following Tuesday morning’s service. He died Feb. 8 at age 77 after complications from gallbladder surgery.
Murtha was the powerful head of the House appropriations defense subcommittee. He became the first Vietnam veteran elected to Congress after taking control of the seat in Pennsylvania’s 12th district in 1974.
Murtha was a vocal critic of the war in Iraq, calling for the withdrawal of troops in 2005.
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, CIA Director Leon Panetta and other officials are expected to attend.
