Unidentified Man: (Singing in foreign language)</s>ERIC WESTERVELT: St. Mary's Basilica, the Gothic Church in Central Krakow, was packed, as were the streets and parks outside. Much of Krakow's historic Old Town was transformed Sunday into a giant, open-air cathedral. Crackly speakers and video screens allowed the estimated 150,000 Poles who turned out to hear the music and take part in the mass, including Krakow resident Eva Ugatoska(ph).</s>EVA UGATOSKA: (Through translator) I came out because I very much respect the president, and I wanted to see what his last journey would like. Rest in peace.</s>ERIC WESTERVELT: After the mass, the caskets of the president and the first lady resting on artillery pieces were slowly pulled by armored Humvees through the city, guided by priests, soldiers, grieving family members and a military band.</s>ERIC WESTERVELT: People applauded and many tossed flowers at the caskets as the procession made its way towards Wawel Cathedral, the 1,000-year-old Polish castle and cathedral complex overlooking the Vistula River.</s>ERIC WESTERVELT: Camilla Coniarska(ph) said she liked the president and first lady and a lavish state funeral is appropriate, but laying them to rest in Wawel Cathedral, she says, is not.</s>CAMILLA CONIARSKA: (Through translator) I have very mixed feelings about the decision. I don't think it's the best place for him to be buried, but I can't do anything about it. That's just the way it is.</s>ERIC WESTERVELT: The American ambassador to Poland, Lee Feinstein, was the senior U.S. official at the funeral. He says how well the close U.S. and NATO ally has handled the tragedy is a testament to the country's stability.</s>LEE FEINSTEIN: The kind of hit that Poland took is really unprecedented for a country in peacetime, but the country has unified, shown tremendous resilience and resolve, and it's going about its business.</s>ERIC WESTERVELT: Eric Westervelt, NPR News, Krakow.
A week of mourning came to a close in Poland Sunday. In Krakow, President Lech Kaczynski and first lady Maria were laid to rest inside the venerated Wawel Cathedral after a state funeral. The president and his wife were killed in a plane crash earlier this month along with dozens of other senior Polish political and military officials.