NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday strongly defended his decision to have flags lowered to half-staff on Saturday for Whitney Houston, saying he rejects criticism that she “forfeited the good things that she did” because of her struggles with substance abuse.
“What I would say to everybody is, ‘There but for the grace of God go I,’ ” he said.
In online postings, there were two main arguments against the honor for the “I Will Always Love You” singer, who died over the weekend in California at age 48: One was that it should be reserved for members of the military, first-responders and elected officials. The other was that it’s wrong to honor a drug addict.
Whitney Houston’s death certificate shows she will be buried in the same New Jersey cemetery where her father was laid to rest. The document was filed Wednesday with the Los Angeles County Department of Health in California. It does not list a cause of death.
Houston will be buried Saturday in Fair View Cemetery in Westfield. Her father, John Russell Houston Jr., was buried there in 2003.
Fans worldwide will be able to watch her private funeral on the Internet.
Her publicist, Kristen Foster, announced that The Associated Press will be allowed a camera at the Saturday ceremony in Newark, N.J. The service will be shown on . The event also will be available to broadcasters via satellite.
