Melissa Hortman's ‘best boy' Gilbert lies in state with slain Minnesota lawmaker
Gilbert the golden retriever was home with US Democratic leader and Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband when a gunman fatally shot the couple and mortally wounded their beloved dog.
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And he was with them again on Friday when the Hortmans lay in state at the Capitol in St. Paul.
He is all but certainly the first dog to receive the honour, having been put down after being badly injured in the attack.
There is no record of any other non-human ever lying in state, and Melissa Hortman, a former state House speaker still leading the chamber's Democrats, is the first woman.
The state previously granted the honour to 19 men, including a vice-president, secretary of state, senators, governors and a Civil War veteran, according to the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.
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Hundreds of people waited outside the Capitol before they were allowed into the rotunda at noon to pay their respects.
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Gilbert the golden retriever was home with US Democratic leader and Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband when a gunman fatally shot the couple and mortally wounded their beloved dog. Advertisement And he was with them again on Friday when the Hortmans lay in state at the Capitol in St. Paul. He is all but certainly the first dog to receive the honour, having been put down after being badly injured in the attack. There is no record of any other non-human ever lying in state, and Melissa Hortman, a former state House speaker still leading the chamber's Democrats, is the first woman. The state previously granted the honour to 19 men, including a vice-president, secretary of state, senators, governors and a Civil War veteran, according to the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Advertisement Hundreds of people waited outside the Capitol before they were allowed into the rotunda at noon to pay their respects.
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