JAMAICANS were yesterday asked to show order, decorum and respect at tomorrow's state funeral for Olympian Herb McKenley.

"We ask people to be orderly and in a decent way [show] the necessary decorum fitting the icon we are going to honour," said Rosie McDonald-Barker, a senior superintendent of police and member of the planning committee for the state funeral.

The funeral service will be held at the National Arena in Kingston and the body will be interred at National Heroes' Park in Kingston.

Shuttle service will be available to take members of the public from the Arena to National Heroes Park and back.

Tonight, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) will hold a wake at the National Arena for McKenley, who passed last week.

The JCDC's Delroy Gordon, who also sits on the planning committee, chaired by Sport Minister Olivia Grange, said it will be "a truly traditional wake".

"In keeping with the Jamaican tradition [there will be] duppy disco and duppy DJs," Gordon said.

Harddough bread, chocolate tea, manish water and other foods traditionally served at wakes will be made available as the JCDC seeks to give McKenley, a track legend, a 'Jamaican send-off'.

Gordon said the Manchioneal Cultural Group, Hartford Cultural Group and the Mount Carmel Revival Group, will be among the night's performances and the wake leader will be Richard Darby.

While there will be no viewing of McKenley's body on Saturday, there will be viewing today at Calabar High School from 8:00 am to 9:00 am and at the National Arena from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. For tomorrow's service, which starts at 2:00 pm, members of the public are asked to be seated by 1:15 pm.

"I would like all Jamaicans to come together on Saturday to give a farewell to one of our truly outstanding sons," Grange told reporters yesterday at a press conference in Kingston.

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