State Funeral for Former President Ronald Reagan: Official Schedule

The U.S. Army Military District of Washington ^ | June 7, 2004 | The U.S. Army Military District of Washington

[eastsider]

June 7, 2004 -- The state funeral for former President Ronald Reagan will occur in three phases: Phases 1 and 3 are executed in the greater Los Angeles area. Phase 2 takes place in Washington, D.C.

The commanding general of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, Maj. Gen. Galen B. Jackman, is responsible for making all ceremonial arrangements for the funeral in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere in the continental United States.

Capt. Paul S. Grossgold, commanding officer of Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu, Calif., will assist Maj. Gen. Jackman by coordinating administrative and logistical support in the greater Los Angeles area.

The remains of the former commander-in-chief will be received with ceremony at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., on Monday, June 7, 2004 at 11 a.m. PDT.

After the arrival ceremony, the remains will lie in repose until 6 p.m. PDT on Tuesday, June 8, 2004. A Guard of Honor will attend the remains while in repose. Public viewing and media coverage will be allowed during this time. This will be the only opportunity for the public to pay their respects in California.

On Wednesday, June 9, 2004, the remains of former President Reagan will depart the library with ceremony at 8:15 a.m. PDT and be transported to Naval Base Ventura County. His casket will depart the base with ceremony at 9 a.m. PDT and be flown to Andrews Air Force Base, Md., arriving with ceremony on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 at approximately 5 p.m. EDT.

At 6 p.m., the cortege will arrive at 16th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW. The former president’s casket will be transferred from the hearse to a horse-drawn caisson for an escort to the U.S. Capitol.

At 6:05 p.m., the main funeral procession will proceed east on Constitution Avenue to the U.S. Capitol. A 21-ship flyover will take place as the cortege crosses 4th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW.

The remains will then be escorted to the U.S. Capitol and received with ceremony at 7 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 9, 2004. Former President Reagan will lie in state with a Guard of Honor. Public viewing and media coverage will be allowed during this time.

On Friday, June 11 at 10:30 a.m., a departure ceremony will take place at the Capitol and move by motorcade to the Washington National Cathedral.

At about 11:15 a.m. EDT, former President Reagan will be received with ceremony at the Washington National Cathedral. A national funeral service will be conducted from 11:30-1:15 p.m. EDT. Afterwards, the remains will depart with ceremony at 1:15 p.m. EDT.

A motorcade will transport the casket from the cathedral to Andrews Air Force Base on Friday, June 11, 2004 at 2:15 p.m. EDT for a departure ceremony.

The remains will be received with ceremony at Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu, Calif., at approximately 4:45 p.m. PDT.

His casket will then be moved to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. The public is welcome to view the motorcade along the route. The motorcade route will be published at a later time.

A private funeral service will be conducted at 6:15 p.m. A private interment service will immediately follow.

[eastsider]

Following are links to details of the Military Honors that The U.S. Army Military District of Washington will provide for this week's state funeral. These details are a "must read" for anyone planning to watch any part of President Reagan's state funeral.

The Evolution of State Funerals
Origins of the 21 Gun Salute
The Caisson / Caparisoned Horse
Ceremonial Gun Salutes
Firing of Three Volleys
Lying in Repose
Lying in State
Main Funeral Procession
Origin of "Taps"

[NYer]

Thanks for the info!

BTTT!

[eastsider]

Here's the Official Schedule. (If you missed yesterday's post, check out the links!)

[Romulus]

Thanks, and give my respect to the Gipper. He really makes the current crop look like a mob of pygmies, doesn't he?

[NYer]

At 6:05 p.m., the main funeral procession will proceed east on Constitution Avenue to the U.S. Capitol. A 21-ship flyover will take place as the cortege crosses 4th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW.

Wish I could be there to witness this.

Black Jack was born on January 19, 1947. His breeding was not known, but he was a beautiful black gelding. Black Jack was sent from Fort. Reno, Oklahoma, to the Third Infantry (The Old Guard) at Fort Myer on November 22, 1953. He was named after General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing, Supreme Commander of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I.

He served as a caparisoned (riderless) horse, and took part in the ceremonial functions, including the funerals of Presidents Herbert Hoover, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and General Douglas MacArthur. His service also included thousands of other funeral processions at Arlington National Cemetery. He was always the riderless horse with boots reversed in the stirrups, a symbol of a fallen hero. Black Jack was the last horse issued to the Army by the Quartermaster, and he was the last to carry the "U.S." brand all army horses had. Black Jack was semi-retired on June 1, 1973, and died February 6, 1976, at the age of 29. His ashes were placed in an urn at his monument at Fort. Meyer, Virginia.

Those Americans who watched the funeral of John F. Kennedy will never forget the sight of Black Jack prancing behind the flag covered coffin, a beautiful and restless symbol of the nation's loss, with the empty, reversed boots shining in the stirrups.

[eastsider]

You couldn't wait for me to ping you?

Just kidding : ) I picked up my camera this morning and will be heading for D.C. at 8am tomorrow. Can barely contain myself.

[newgeezer]

This would be a good time to have TiVO.

[WayneM]

I just got through ordering, through my Congressman, a flag that will be flown over the Capitol on Thursday, the day that President Reagan's body will be lying in state.

I'm not sure how many Freepers are aware of this, but Congressmen can obtain flags that have been flown over the Capitol. You can request a date and a certificate of commemoration - for someone's birthday, anniversary, date of death, etc.

THere is a fee for this but it is quite reasonable, and it is, I think, a great way to commemorate life and death of the greatest president in my lifetime.

You are supposed to allow four weeks to receive the flag, but the administrative assistant I spoke with assured me they would get the order over in time to have it done.

[My back yard]

Wow.

[eastsider]

The horse this year is named Sergeant York, which might (don't know for sure) have some military significance:

The M247 (Sergeant York) is an American self-propelled anti-aircraft gun developed in the 1980s to replace the M163A2 system. The M247 is based on a modified M48 tank chassis and is manned by a crew of three and armed with twin Bofors 40 mm L/70 guns. The M247 has a top speed of 48 kmh and a range of 500 km. (Entry from Probert Encyclopaedia on-line)

[eastsider]

Excellent planning! And thanks for the info.

[eastsider]

sic transit gloria

[eastsider]

My VCR recorder is getting a workout this week.

[Jaded]

Thanks

[WayneM]

Forgot to mention...

Many members of Congress have an "Order a Flag" page on their website. Mine does.

I called my Congressional office in Washington first to make sure it could be done. The lady with whom I spoke said that it could. She then requested that I go to the web page and fill out the order form (this is also where you "design" the certificate.)

I called back later to confirm that they had received my order. I ordered two, one for myself and one for my father.

By the way, I believe they don't fly over the Capitol for very long. I think there is a guy there who basically runs them up the flagpole, lets them stay for a few moments, and then brings them back down. Oh well -it's the thought that counts.

[eastsider]

I developed a heightened appreciation for Drill and Ceremony during my tour in the Army band system, and I feel a sense of duty to put the word out on the significance of the military honors given at a state funeral.

[WayneM]

Alvin York, WWI hero and Medal of Honor winner.

After their officers were killed, he assumed command and he, with 7 men, charged a German machine gun nest. They captured 4 officers, 128 men, and several guns. By the way, he tried to get out of service because he was a pacifist - not a coward but a genuine pacifist.

http://www.grunts.net/legends/alvinyork.html

[eastsider]

By the way, I believe they don't fly over the Capitol for very long. I think there is a guy there who basically runs them up the flagpole, lets them stay for a few moments, and then brings them back down.

All glory is fleeting.

[eastsider]

So, the riderless horse is named after an Army hero. In light of Ronald Reagan's military service, that's appropriate. Thanks for the info.

[redbaiter]

bump for reference.