Jeni Stepanek’s son Mattie had forged a bond with Carter in 2001, days before he was supposed to die. Mattie had said one of his last wishes was to meet with the man he considered his hero.

In a rare show of unity in these tumultuous times, every living American president filed into pews together Thursday to honor one of their own at the funeral for President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday.

These events will all take place around the weekend as the nation says goodbye to the late president during a national day of mourning.