Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., center, consoles former Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich., as Macomb County executive Mark Hackel, right, looks on at the casket of her husband and former Rep. John Dingell, lying in repose in Dearborn, Mich., Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. John Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history, was first elected in 1955 and retired in 2014. The Democrat was 92. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Associated Press
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Dozens of John Dingell's former constituents lined up Monday at a performing arts center in suburban Detroit to pay their respects to the longest-serving member of Congress in U.S. history, passing his flag-covered coffin and offering condolences to his wife and family.
Dingell's casket was in a ballroom at the center in Dearborn. Outside the room, mourners viewed oversized photos of his life and 59-year career in Congress. He died last week at age 92, four years after retiring from the House.
The visitation was the first of many public events this week. Funeral Masses will be held Tuesday in Dearborn and Thursday in Washington. A motorcade with Dingell's casket will pass the U.S. Capitol, where the Michigan Democrat held power for years as a House committee chairman. He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.
Dingell succeeded his father in Congress in 1955, and his wife was elected to his seat in 2014. Rep. Debbie Dingell greeted the public after some private moments near the casket with former Rep. Candice Miller and Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, Rep. John Lewis of Georgia and Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan will speak at the Tuesday service. Former President Bill Clinton and former House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio will speak at the Washington service.
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See AP's complete coverage of John Dingell here: https://apnews.com/JohnDingell
Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., stands near the casket of her husband and former Rep. John Dingell lying in repose in Dearborn, Mich., Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. John Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history, was first elected in 1955 and retired in 2014. The Democrat was 92. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Associated Press
Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., stands at the casket of her husband and former Rep. John Dingell, lying in repose in Dearborn, Mich., Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. John Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history, was first elected in 1955 and retired in 2014. The Democrat was 92. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Associated Press
A police officer stands guard stands guard at the casket of former Michigan Rep. John Dingell, lying in repose in Dearborn, Mich., Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history, was first elected in 1955 and retired in 2014. The Democrat was 92. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Associated Press
The casket of former Michigan Rep. John Dingell, lies in repose in Dearborn, Mich., Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history, was first elected in 1955 and retired in 2014. The Democrat was 92. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Associated Press
A police officer stands guard stands guard at the casket of former Michigan Rep. John Dingell, lying in repose in Dearborn, Mich., Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history, was first elected in 1955 and retired in 2014. The Democrat was 92. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this May 7, 2014 file photo, Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich. is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington. Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history who mastered legislative deal-making and was fiercely protective of Detroit's auto industry, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019 at age 92, said his wife, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. A public visitation will be held Monday, Feb. 11 at Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in his hometown of Dearborn, a Detroit suburb. A funeral will be held at a local church Tuesday. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke, File)
The Associated Press