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Legalboxer
Member
11-17-2003
| Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 5:41 pm
Just adding on to things This whole funeral was planned since 1989 and actually the Reagans were first asked in 1981 as to what kind of funeral they wanted – so its something they have to think about long before they plan to die J In terms of lying in state at the Capitol or having an official Washington state funeral - Nine presidents lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda; all but two had served in Congress. Reagan did not. (another site said Reagan would be the 10th president to lie in state) Seven presidents have had funeral processions down Pennsylvania Avenue, including all four presidents to have died by assassination: Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley and Kennedy. Kennedy and William Howard Taft are the only two presidents buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Ex-president John Adams did not even lay in the White House, even though he died while his son, John Quincy Adams, was president. The older Adams, the country's second president, and Thomas Jefferson, the third, died on the same day - July 4, 1826 - which perhaps complicated Adams' chances for a White House viewing. Congressman Henry Clay, in 1852, was the first to lay in the Capitol Rotunda. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover lay in the Capitol in 1972. Two police officers shot down in 1998 while protecting the Capitol also lay in state there. Former President Lyndon Johnson, in 1973, was the last ex-president to have had an official Washington ceremony. Former President Nixon's family, acting on his wishes, opted out of the Washington traditions when he died in 1994. Pierre Charles L'Enfant, the French-born architect responsible for the design of Washington, waited 84 years to be honored. In 1909 the remains of L'Enfant, who died in 1825, stopped at the Capitol when being moved from a Maryland grave to Arlington National Cemetery.
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Rosie
Member
11-12-2003
| Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 5:47 pm
Thanks Legal - very interesting. The news reported that the officer accompanying Mrs. Reagan is in charge of the honor guard and that he will continue to accompany her. Hope the news was correct on that. Oh, the same news said that this officer was also a personal friend of the Reagans.
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Legalboxer
Member
11-17-2003
| Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 5:51 pm
thanks rosie - that is good that she has a real shoulder to lean on
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 6:59 pm
Rosie, yes, I read that too. And, that specific honor guard, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, remains with the President until he's buried in California. Also, another factoid; the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment is typically a ceremonial military unit. However, due to the world situation, members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment are serving active duty for the first time since Vietnam.
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Halfunit
Member
09-02-2001
| Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 7:46 pm
I'm a little late checking back in due to t-storms... For those who care to watch, C-SPAN is currently showing the public viewing in the rotunda. They are going to re-broadcast the procession at midnight, ET and the ceremony at 1am or 1:30am, ET.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 9:50 pm
I thought this was interesting. http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040608/ap_on_re_us/reagan_funeral_facts_1 Reagan's Funeral Guided by the Past Tue Jun 8, 5:29 PM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo! By The Associated Press The past instructs the present when the United States carries out a state funeral, prescribing a template that officials and family use in planning the ceremony. A look at elements of President Reagan's state funeral, their place in history and some of the terminology: _The principal events: A funeral procession moves to the Capitol from near the White House starting around 6 p.m. EDT Wednesday, an hour after Reagan's body arrives from California at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington. A state funeral service in the Rotunda of the Capitol follows, and then his body will lie in state through the night and continuously until Friday morning, for viewing by dignitaries and the public. A national funeral service takes place Friday at National Cathedral before Reagan's body is flown back to California for a private sunset burial on the grounds of the Reagan Library. _Lying in state: In California, Reagan lay in repose; in Washington, he will lie in state. The difference is the setting: The deceased can only lie in state in the Rotunda. Reagan will be the 10th president to lie in state in the Rotunda, the first since Lyndon Johnson in 1973. _Beyond Washington: All U.S. Army installations with troops and guns join in a salute that began Monday with the firing of one gun every half-hour at each base, from reveille to retreat. On Friday, each installation will participate in a 21-gun salute at noon, firing once a minute. The day will end with a 50-gun salute at each base, fired every five seconds, immediately following the lowering of the flag. In Washington, two 105mm howitzers will sound their booming 21-gun salute when Reagan's casket arrives at the Capitol on Wednesday evening. _Gunfire over the grave: Three volleys are fired over the grave at burial, a custom carried over from the battlefield, when warriors periodically paused from fighting to tend to the dead. The volleys signaled that the burial party was ready to resume battle. The custom of threes is believed to have been adapted from ancient Rome, when mourners cast dirt on the coffin three times, thrice called the name of the dead and thrice declared "vale," meaning farewell, as they left the tomb. _Military music: Each stage of the funeral is attended by music from a military band. Aside from hymns, traditional selections include "Hail to the Chief," graveside "Taps" and "Ruffles and Flourishes." The ruffle on drums and the flourish on bugles are sounded together, up to four times depending on the prominence of the deceased. Reagan, as all presidents, will get four ruffles and flourishes. _Speed limit: Processions using motorcades are to move at 20 mph. _The caisson and caparisoned horse: Perhaps the most indelible image of a presidential state funeral is the procession of six horses pulling the black artillery caisson that bears the flag-draped casket. Only the three horses on the left are mounted, a tradition dating to when one artillery horse in every pair carried provisions instead of a rider. Behind the caisson is another riderless horse, with an empty saddle and the rider's boots reversed in the stirrups, symbolizing a warrior who will ride no more. The caisson and caparisoned horse are central in the Wednesday evening procession to the Capitol. The caparisoned horse for Reagan's procession is Sgt. York, a solid black standardbred retired from the racetrack. _Pallbearers: The honorary pallbearers are former Reagan aides Michael Deaver and Frederick Ryan, entertainer Merv Griffin, Reagan's White House physician John Hutton, and Charles Wick, former Hollywood producer and former head of the U.S. Information Agency. The casket is carried by "body bearers" drawn from each of the military services.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 9:53 pm
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040609/ap_on_re_us/reagan_funeral_timeline_4 THURSDAY: _All day: Public viewing of casket continues in rotunda. _Evening: President Bush (news - web sites) and wife, Laura, plan to call on Mrs. Reagan. She will be staying in the Blair House, the official guest residence across the street from the White House. Then Bush is expected to go to the Capitol to visit Reagan's casket as it lies in state. FRIDAY: _7 a.m.: Public viewing ends. _10:30 a.m.: Departure ceremony at the Capitol. _10:45 a.m.: Motorcade departs Capitol for Washington National Cathedral. _11:15 a.m.: Motorcade arrives at cathedral. _11:30 a.m.: National funeral service at cathedral. Irish tenor Ronan Tynan will perform Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria." Former Sen. John C. Danforth, R-Mo., is officiating. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (news - web sites) will read John Winthrop's "We shall be as a City Upon a Hill." Eulogies planned by President Bush, former President George H. W. Bush, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. _1:15 p.m.: Departure ceremony from cathedral. _1:45 p.m.: Motorcade departs cathedral for Andrews Air Force Base. _2:45 p.m.: Aircraft departs Andrews. _7:45 p.m.: Aircraft arrives at Point Mugu Naval Air Station in California. _9 p.m.: Motorcade arrives at Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. _9:15 p.m.: Private interment service at library. _10:30 p.m.: Interment ceremony concludes.
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Hippyt
Member
06-15-2001
| Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 10:03 pm
Prince Charles has also signed on.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 10:19 pm
Found this in a CNN article on today's schedule..don't know if this same officer has been with her the whole time, but I had heard somewhere that it would be. She'll be escorted by Maj. Gen. Galen Jackman, the commander of the U.S. Army's Military District of Washington, which does logistics for the event, and possibly by Rick Ahern, a family friend.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 10:26 pm
Did a little more googling and Major Jackman did escort Mrs Reagan in CA.
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 4:59 am
I watched the funeral from end to end and was very much impressed with the proceedings. I was a little disturbed by the bands occasionally playing jaunty marches on the procession down Constitution Avenue, but then again maybe Reagan or Nancy requested them specifically. Certainly there's a difference in that Reagan's death was not a tragedy, but rather just very, very sad, and I think the crowds reaction with clapping and shouting to Nancy was very much in keeping with that sentiment. The 21-gun salutes (particularly with howitzer) and the "missing man" maneuver get me every time. All speakers did nicely, and I particularly was moved by VP Cheney's tribute. I saw Michael and Nancy go up to the casket, but didn't see Ron Jr. and Patty even though they were there (of course). All in all, my most overriding thought was "Reagan would have loved this." He just loved pomp and circumstance. I'm so glad we're giving it to him. Thanks to everyone for all the information on funereal customs - this thread has been a great. One thing I didn't hear mentioned, although maybe I just missed it - the catafalque which was built to support the coffin of Abraham Lincoln has been maintained in a special vault in the basement of the Capitol, and up til now used for every state funeral since. I assume that Reagan's coffin is resting on the same.
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Jewels
Member
09-23-2000
| Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 6:56 am
Yes, it is GAL, I heard that last night.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 7:19 am
GAL, I kept thinking the same thing! I couldn't sleep last night and was channel surfing, hit upon CSpan and people were still paying respects at 2:00 AM!! I heard the most eloquent statement from a young guy in the crowd yesterday. "Today, we are just Americans. We are neither Republican or Democrat. Black or White. Gay or Straight. We are simply Americans honoring a man who was the President and the Presidency itself. They both are due our respect".
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Bandit
Member
07-29-2001
| Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 8:12 am
This has been a great thread and I thought last night's service was absolutely beautiful and very dignified. I too, get choked up everytime Mrs. Reagan pats the casket. So very sad. I wanted to address the boots riding backwards on the riderless horse. I read in the paper today that it symbolizes a fallen soldier looking back on his troops.
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 8:26 am
It really did me in when she laid her head down on the casket. I lost it.
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Carrie92
Member
09-15-2003
| Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 8:51 am
I know. You can just see how much she really loves him. I think it's a great testament to marriage. I can't imagine how hard it must be to be a President and First Lady and still maintain a solid marriage being in the public eye constantly...half the country hating you...being nearly assassinated...wow. And in particular, during these last years with his Alzheimer's, an entirely different struggle... Yet, you can still see that strong love on her face. Amazing. Gives me a lot of hope. I doubt she realizes how much she is affecting people.
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Conejo
Member
08-23-2002
| Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 9:36 am
Last night someone (Tom Brokaw?) said that Mrs.Reagan told him that President Reagan had not opened his eyes at all for the last few months and just before he died he opened his eyes, turned his head and looked at Nancy. They said that for that brief moment he had the old 'twinkle' back in his eyes. He then closed his eyes and was gone. May God Bless Mrs. Reagan for all that she has been through and all that she has yet to face.
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 9:39 am
Conejo, that is what Patti wrote and it's in this week's People magazine. She said that for the last week or so, he did not open his eyes and right before he died, he opened them and looked at Mrs. Reagan with clarity not cloudiness and then passed. She said if a death could be beautiful that one was.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 10:13 am
How beautiful! I was watcing Leslie Stahl (i think) interview a man who had been interview Reagan for many years. He told a story of how one time some gave Reagan a fish bowl with a miniture White House in it. One day, Nancy saw him holding something in his fist and asked him what he had. He opened his hand and was holding the little White House. She asked him if he knew what it was and he said, "not really, but I think it has to do with me." so sad.
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Watching2
Member
07-07-2001
| Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 10:23 am
Awwwww..... 
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 10:32 am
yikes..sorry about all the typos!
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Strawberry
Member
07-18-2002
| Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 10:38 am
Wow, that was a great story Texannie! Thanks for sharing. Don't worry about it, we love you typos and all 
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 10:56 am

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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 12:44 pm
WOW..was watching CNN, they were showing the people filing by the casket. There was a soldier with no hands saluting him.
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Legalboxer
Member
11-17-2003
| Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 12:50 pm
"how much she really loves him" exactly - LOVES not Loved - something that never will go away
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