Posted on 06/11/2004 12:57:41 PM PDT by 91B
On hearing of former President Reagan's death my wife and I decided to go and pay our respects. We decided to go on Monday and made plans to leave Wednesday afternoon after work. We live in western North Carolina and we have been to D.C. on several occasions so we knew about how long it would take us to arrive. We would take I-40 to I-77, then take I-81 north to I-66 and into the district.
We had figured on seven hours and we made it to Alexandria at almost exactly midnight on Wednesday (we left D.C. at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday and didn't get home until after midnight. I had to get up and come to work, but it was definitely worth it). We could not find a hotel room anywhere in Manassas, and got the last available room in a hotel in Alexandria. The next day we got up late and didn't leave the hotel until almost noon. We took the Metro from the Pentagon to the Capitol, walked about four blocks and found a place in line.
At this point I want to compliment whoever was in charge of the planning for the event, because I feel that whoever had this responsibility did a very good job. There were volunteers with water and the Capitol police did a great job keeping order and movng things along. We waited in line for about three and a half hours talking to other people including one man we met who worked in the first Reagan administration and now lives and works in Georgia. Most of the people in line were very dignified and behaved properly for a funeral (I had been concerned about a carnival atmosphere).
Once we made it into the rotunda we felt proud (if that is the right word-you can't say you were happy to be at someone's funeral) to have attended. Ronald Reagan was a great President, a great man and a great American. I was in high school when he was in office and I didn't appreciate what a giant he was then. I have since learned better. I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to say goodbye to him
At this point I want to compliment whoever was in charge of the planning for the event, because I feel that whoever had this responsibility did a very good job.That would be the Military District of Washington.
Thanks.
I don't know whether they will let people visit the grave or not, but I hope so. I understand why you felt you couldn't go, but we saw people with strollers and very young kids there. If there would have been any way to coordinate it ahead of time, my wife and I would have been happy to help you watch your kids (I guess that isn't much help now though).
We must be neighbors. I'm out past Brevard. Where you?
I had checked into flying to DC on Monday, but the short notice and the poor air connections to Tucson meant that I could not get a flight for less than $500, a little more than I could jsutify right now. Still, I will always regret not being there for the procession.
It was really nice to talk to the folks in line. My brother and I were especially taken by the affection for President Reagan shown by a college kid (history and economics student) from Tennessee who wasn't even born when Reagan began first term. Several folks comforted me when I was brought to tears by the air force missing man formation. We were right near the front of the line, and even a reporter, attracted by my reaction, was quite polite in respecting my shake of the head.
BTTT
Morganton. Are you close to Franklin?
We probably spent about $200. Sorry you couldn't come.
Yeah, there were several reporters interviewing people as they went through the line and they were all respectful.
Brevard. Two hours from Franklin on 64.
bump for publicity
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