Unlike Lisa Marie's Final Gift to her Father  Joe Esposito had a complete different take on adoring
Elvis' body for the private funeral service at the Graceland mansion. The press reported that the American Dream died with Elvis. There is no doubt that with Elvis' death rock n roll music died and the world would never be the same again. Joe Esposito who was pallbearer at Elvis' funeral with Charlie Hodge, Billy Smith, Lamar Fike and Dr Nicopolis - approached Memphis funeral director, Robert Kendall just after Elvis body lay in state at Graceland and the immediate Presley family had paid there private respects.  

Joe handed Kendall an opened velvet box in which was a thick gold ring with a black onyx stone surrounded by diamonds and arranged to spell out the initials TCB the taking Car of Business slogan which Elvis had inspired several years earlier.

"I want you to put this on the third finger of his right hand," said Joe to Kendall. Then without taking a breath added, “I want it left there until just before you close the lid. We don’t want it buried. And when you remove it I want you to return it to me as soon as you can… don’t give it to anyone else but me, understand?”

On Sunday, October 1977 just a little after 7pm Elvis’ coffin and that of his mother’s were exhumed from the Forest Hill cemetery and transport to Graceland where Kendall had arranged the burial.  

The work at the Meditation Gardens was done in the dead of night under a battery of bright lights which certainly presented an eerie scene for the handful of fans milling around outside the main gate. Only a handful of Elvis’ immediate family gathered for the formal and final interment.  

Vernon remained seated at the gravesite and watched as the coffins of the two persons dearest to him in life disappeared from his view. As the vault lids were lowered in place and sealed Elvis’ father stood up and walked toward the mansion turning to Kendall he said in a hoarse voice. “Elvis and his Momma are finally home”  November 11, 1977 the two massive slabs of granite & bronze that bore Vernon ’s personal epitaph were lowered by crane & positioned onto the two graves. Vernon did not witness the installation, but visited the gravesite shortly after. Less than two years after his son died on June 22 1979, Vernon Presley passed away at the age of 65. He was buried in the grave next to his beloved son. To his left is the grave of Minnie Mae Presley, Elvis grandmother who died in 1980. To the right of Vernon is buried Elvis’ mother. There remain two more burial plots. No one will say who or if anyone will occupy them. However, Lisa Marie lyrics do indicate that she believes Graceland’s Meditation Garden will be her final resting place

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