LIVE THREAD: Reagan State Funeral Ceremony: Arrival at the Capitol

www.freerepublic.com | June 9, 2004

[Howlin]

Arrival at Andrews Air Force Base scheduled for 5 P.M. EDT.

Beginning of procession: 16th and Constitution at 6:00 P.M.

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The procession begins at 16 th Street and Constitution Avenue with the ceremonial transfer of remains of former President Ronald Reagan from a hearse to a horse-drawn caisson for the processional to the Capitol. The casket transfer will take place at 6 p.m. and caisson continues east with formal military escort.

The public will be able to pay final respects while the remains lie in state in the Capitol rotunda from 7:00 p.m. through Friday, June 11, 2004 at 9:30 a.m.

[Terriergal]

lol glad I wasn't the only one to do something like that!

[cgk]

Didn't get any better. I'll try one more thing, then just keep ... capturing history along with you and the others for our cubicle-bound pals.

[Maigrey]

Hallelujah! I am grateful for the FReepers who are on-site.

[Howlin]

I'll be there tomorrow!

[StayAt HomeMother]

To try make this a bit more clear, the motorcade is going into DC, then take the Suitland Parkway onto Interstate 295 across the Anacostia River on the 11th Street Bridge, take I-395 across the Potomac into Virginia, pass the Pentagon on the George Washington Parkway, then re-cross the Potomac on Arlington Memorial Bridge (the beautiful bridge which runs from Arlington Cemetery to the Lincoln Memorial). After circling around the Lincoln, it is only a block to Constitution Avenue where the casket will be moved onto the caisson. Crowds have lined up several deep along Constitution to pay their respects as the casket proceeds to the Capitol at the other end of Constitution.

[Peach]

Thank you so much for these pictures. It's so heartening to see parents taking their children and sharing a historic time with them.

[onyx]

I'm going to FOX real soon.
Taking a break right now.
Once the procession is underway,
I want to tape it.
The riderless horse, Sgt. York,
will be carrying President Reagan's
boots in the stirrups.

[YaYa123]

Aren't you thrilled with the DC crowd lining the streets? This is so amazing, so wonderful to know America hasn't forgotten.

[don-o]

Mash

cbs is working great for me

[Rebelbase]

Chris Matthews taking digs at Cheney for being gone from Washington and in secure facilities when there is a threat.

[samadams2000]

Brace yourself Freepers..

This is gonna be epic.

epic.

[Terriergal]

No, go to the page and on the righthand side near the top you will see links to listen via realplayer or windows media. You have to get the Cspan1 feed.

[cyncooper]

So does the presidents family have the most say so in what kind of procession takes place?

Yes. President Reagan's plans have been set for years with annual updating on any fine details that needed tweaking.

[sinkspur]

how do you know so much about caskets and the like?

Worked in a funeral home all during college. Embalmed a little, but mostly drove families and made first calls at hospitals and nursing homes.

[hispanarepublicana]

I wrote in another thread a couple days ago that this is all VERY BIZARRE for the primary caregiver of an Alzheimers victim anywhere, let alone with a state funeral and the world looking on. I've been in the immediate family of an Alzheimers victim, and basically, the caregiver is "secluded" from society in general. When the victim passes, all of a sudden EVERYONE wants to see you and talk about the victim (whereas generally people avoided you and avoided discussing your loved one during the illness).
I've been there. It's a dizzying and exhausting experience. Plus, you do struggle with a little guilt tht wears on you because a certain part of you is so relieved.

[JohnBovenmyer]

The image is beautiful and stylish, but Reagan was all about substance. And his last act in Washington is substantial. Shutting down all but the essential parts of the government for a whole day. He'd say it is a good start.

[onyx]

The crowds look huge.

[samadams2000]

CBS (Sheifer) just said this is big "but nothing like the Kennedy funeral"

Ive had it.