CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A statue of the late Reverend Billy Graham, representing the state of North Carolina, was unveiled in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday.
The sculpture depicts Graham gesturing toward an open Bible in his hand. It was created by Charlotte artist Chas Fagan.
The 7-foot bronze statue stands on a pedestal engraved with verses from the Bible that highlight Graham's lifelong commitment to sharing the Gospel.
Billy Graham spent more than 80 years preaching to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history, nearly 215 million people across six continents. He died at the age of 99 in 2018.
Graham was named North Carolina's "favorite son" by a unanimous vote of the state General Assembly in 2013.
This set the stage for then-North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory to sign House Bill 540 into law in 2015, which decreed that a statue of Graham would be commissioned to represent the state in the U.S. Capitol.
The House Bill calling for the statue said, "There have been many great North Carolinians, but few have impacted the world more than Billy Graham."
The statue's unveiling took place during a private dedication ceremony in the National Statuary Hall. Members of the Graham family, along with House Speaker Mike Johnson, other congressional representatives, and the North Carolina Statuary Hall Committee, will be present for this event.
There will also be special music from three-time Grammy-winner Michael W. Smith.
Rev. Graham holds the distinction of being one of the only private citizens to three of the highest honors from Congress - the Congressional Gold Medal, to have laid in honor at the U.S. Capitol, and to have a statue commissioned for Statuary Hall.
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