Franklin Graham says he's 'honored' to see statue of Rev. Billy Graham at US Capitol

A bronze sculpture of the late Rev. Billy Graham, the prolific evangelist also known as “America’s Pastor,” was unveiled at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday.

Graham's likeness, depicting the Charlotte-born minister with his archetypal gesture toward an open Bible in his hand, was revealed inside National Statuary Hall during a gathering attended by House Speaker Mike Johnson, Gov. Roy Cooper, former Vice President Mike Pence, state congressional and legislative members and Graham's family.

The Rev. Franklin Graham, the evangelist's son, said his father would have been uncomfortable with all of the attention had he been there Thursday, "because he would want the focus to be on the one that he preached. He’d want the focus to be on the Lord Jesus Christ."

The Graham statue replaces one of early 20th-century Gov. Charles Aycock, who, while known as an education advocate, has fallen from favor because of his ties to the white supremacy movement at the time.

While not a social activist, Graham integrated his Southern crusades in 1953, a year before the Supreme Court’s school integration ruling. And he long refused to visit South Africa while its white regime insisted on racially segregated meetings. Graham said later in life he regretted that he didn’t battle for civil rights more forcefully.

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