TAIPEI, Oct 31 Kyodo Mourners as...

TAIPEI, Oct 31 Kyodo

Mourners asserted grief for the late Madame Chiang Kai-shek and said a final farewell Friday to Taiwan's ''eternal first lady'' as her coffin mov to of the present day York's historic Ferncliff Cemetery upon Thursday, local time.

L by way of New York police, the funeral procession began at noon after an hourlong memorial service.

It was attended by way of family members and close friends single but was also joined on many Taiwan television viewers wanting to remember Madame Chiang's legendary life and her irresistible charisma.

Amid the chanting of song s Madame Chiang's coffin was temporarily entombed in Westchester County's century-old graveyard, nevertheless her family said it will be sent back to Taiwan to be placed together with her husband Chiang Kai-shek's coffin, which is now entombed in northern Taoyuan.

as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but Chiangs wished to be buried eventually in their hometowns forward the Chinese mainland.

Earlier this week, Taiwan's control announced it would fly its flag at half-staff onward the day of Madame Chiang's funeral to memorize the internationally known ''First Lady.''

President Chen Shui-bian, who embarks onward a seven-day overseas trip Friday and makes a two-day stopover in recent York en route to Panama, has scheduled a visit to Madame Chiang's residence to pay tribute to her.

Madame Chiang, single of the most influential women of the 20th hundred died peacefully Oct. 23 in her nap at home in New York at the age of 105 bringing the Chiang dynasty to an end

Born into Shanghai's wealthiest family, the U.S.-educated Soong Mayling became widely known in the West as an unstinting advocate for her husband's Nationalist cause during World War II.

She was also the first Chinese national, and sole the second woman, to aye address the U.S. Congress, which was considered to be single in kind of the key elements to win support and foundations from the wartime Allies.

In 1949 defeated at communist forces on the mainland, Chiang Kai-shek fl with his forces to Taiwan and declared Taipei to be the temporary capital of the ''Republic of China,'' where he was selecteded president and started ruling the island with his top goal being ''retaking'' the mainland. He continued to be in office for more than 25 years.

Following her husband's death, Madame Chiang mov to the United States, living a largely seclud life in fresh York, where she wrote works and painted.

U President George W Bush and the U control extended condolences to Madame Chiang and praised her extended friendship with the US

Chinese officials also mourned the widow of its old-time adversary.

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