On June 10, 2016, boxing legend Muhammad Ali, was buried in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, following a funeral procession attended by tens of thousands of fans. Over 100,000 people lined the streets to bid farewell to the boxing icon, widely regarded as the greatest to ever grace the ring.
Ali's private burial ceremony took place at Louisville's Cave Hill Cemetery and was followed by a memorial attended by world leaders, including former US President Bill Clinton.
In the presence of other notable attendees, actor Will Smith, who played the role of Ali in the 2001 film "Ali," helped carry the coffin, along with former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis and family members.
Ali died on June 3 at the age of 74 at his home in Arizona, after battling Parkinson's disease for nearly 30 years, which had significantly impaired his ability to speak in recent decades.
Several prominent figures paid tribute to the late Ali. Valerie Jarrett, senior aide to then-President Barack Obama, read a message from Obama and his wife Michelle, stating, "Muhammad Ali was America. Muhammad Ali will always be America."
Bill Clinton
Former President Clinton described Ali as "a free man of faith," saying further, "I think he decided very young to write his own life story. I think he decided that he would never be disempowered. Not his race, not his place, not the expectations of others, whether positive or negative, would strip from him the power to write his own story."
Most significantly, Ali's widow, Lonnie, said this about her late husband, "If Muhammad did not like the rules, he would rewrite them. His religion, his name, his beliefs were his to fashion, no matter what the cost."
Lonnie Ali
Ali ruled the boxing ring for years, defeated top boxing figures, won several awards, and became a revered champion who would never be forgotten.
5 Other Key Events on This Day
(1) The Great Arab Revolt began against the ruling Ottoman Turks - 1916.
(2) Notorious US bank robbers, Bonnie and Clyde, had a serious car crash - 1933.
(3) Nazis killed all inhabitants of Lidice, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (now Czech Republic) - 1942.
(4) Italy declared war on France and Great Britain - 1940.
(5) Norway surrendered to Germany during WW II - 1940
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