Great thoughts!
I thought I might relate a short version of what Reagan did for me.
After I got out of the Army in 1972, I was demoralized, emotionally damaged and depressed. This condition which should have gotten better, never really did, ending in a divorce after six years and many different jobs and addresses.
When Reagan took office, I felt that he nor anyone else could somehow repair this damage, but I had no idea what had caused it? Why was was I all F'd up?
To make a long story short, when Reagan sent our guys to that little puke island and rescued those students with a quick decisive blow to the enemy with so much class, it lifted me up like nothing else could. I felt like my despair was gone, my moral repaired and my manhood rekindled.
I was whole again!
I discovered that it was the defeat in Nam and the lousy moral that ensued that directly caused my grief and lack of purpose and depression.
Reagan repaired that damage for me and many other vets. I will love him and honor him until I breath my last. As I watched his hearse leave the Reagan home a few minutes ago, I saluted him. Something I have not done since 1972. I will be doing much more saluting in the coming days as I ponder the great things that this man has accomplished for this country.
Wirestripper, I am very moved by your story. I deeply thank you for sharing it with me. I hope your life continued on that much brighter path and that you are happy today. While I grieve so at his death, I am happy we had him for a little while and that his greatness lifted so many of us up. BTW, tears are flowing as I write these words. God bless you, Wirestripper.
Thanks for sharing your story. President Reagan touched a LOT of lives. Mine too. He made me feel protected and proud to be an American.
I made it through the day without breaking up but your story did it wirestripper. I've been reading this thread just trying to catch up and I believe that your tribute is the most touching one I've seen. God bless you and God bless President Ronald Reagan.
I may have been too immature to understand the impact of this great man at the time, but hindsight has me feeling very, very lucky.
When Carter conceded his loss to Reagan, I was a college student working as a proofreader in a law firm in Century City (the part of L.A. where Reagan had his offices). I had not yet gone to vote, and now I wouldn't get to! Walking out of the building, I said to a fellow student, a stranger, "Looks like we have a new President!" He replied that he was crossing the street to go see him speak, and would I like to come with him? Well, why the heck not?
We jeans-wearing kids went into the hallway of the hotel, where everyone seemed to be in suits, and headed for the doorway to the grand ballroom. Alas, those going in all seemed to have tickets for the event. My companion quickly folded up two sheets of paper to look like tickets, and put them in his pocket. A quick flash of his pocket and we were in the hall.
Security was different in those days. We both had backpacks full of books, and yet were not checked and did not APPEAR to go through any metal detectors. That even bothered me at the time.
We went and stood right next to the stage, front and center. I believe we were standing there a couple of hours, at least, as the crowd filled. There were a few acts and speeches before the President-elect came on stage. I only remember one female singer crooning "He's leaving... on that midnight train to Georgia..."
The only thing I remember about that speech was the excitement of the crowd, and being stunned that little me was just FEET away from our new President.
My second encounter with President Reagan was a few years later. Serendipitously I was working in the kitchen of the most elegant restaurant in that same hotel (the Century Plaza). The President was in the suite of the new tower section, a suite built for top security for him, and he was going to have lunch in our restaurant with someone.
The dogs came through and the Secret Service stood behind me as I prepared, with scissors and my own bare hands, a salad for my President to eat. I was thrilled, nervous, and as honored as could be. It was a mache salad and I hope he enjoyed it.
Rest in peace, Mr. President. Thank you for our freedom and prosperity, and may we ever guard and extend it in your honor following your great example. Thank you for setting the character bar so high that those who would rather play limbo with it have not managed to tarnish you or us.