Lady Thatcher salutes her "dearest friend"
Posted on 06/10/2004 2:41:41 AM PDT by MadIvan
Baroness Thatcher has paid her last respects to her "dearest friend", the former American president Ronald Reagan, whose body is lying in state in Washington.
Lady Thatcher salutes her "dearest friend" |
Earlier Mr Reagan's wife, Nancy, ran her hand along the coffin's length, a look of anguish on her face.
The body of the 40th President was taken to Washington after lying in repose at his official library in California in preparation for the funeral tomorrow.
The ceremony will be attended by the Prince of Wales and Prime Minister Tony Blair. Baroness Thatcher will join President George W Bush in eulogising Mr Reagan.
Afterwards, there will be a private burial back at the Reagan library.
Before the lying in state began, the coffin was conveyed through the streets by a horse-drawn caisson. A riderless horse joined the procession to symbolise a fallen leader and a pair of Mr Reagan's boots were turned backward in the stirrups to signify the loss of a rider.
Twenty-one military jets performed a fly-by, with one soaring high above the group to mark the former president's passing.
Mr Reagan died surrounded by his wife, his daughter Patti Davis and son Ron Reagan on Saturday, aged 93, after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease.
I'm personally horrified by how much Kerry is courting the French and Germans already.
Regards, Ivan
are far from over.
The constant harping that it's not a coalition without Germany and France just makes my blood boil.
Glad to see you back...
Poor Maggie. She looks shattered.
Regards, Ivan
Yes, and we're sending Blair, Lady Thatcher and Prince Charles. Compare and contrast us to the the faithless French.
Kerry has very little visibility here except in a general sense: "Oh, he's the opponent of Bush in the forthcoming election." I think more people here will be upset when it becomes clear he disregards Britain as an ally.
Regards, Ivan
God bless her for coming.
My rabidly democratic cousin in Boston called Kerry an embarassment to the state of Massachusetts. It was a bit of an eye opener.
The French have no class. They may have at one time, but they seem to overestimate their importance.
Thank you for your post. A real watery-eye maker. This is an incredible week.
Wonderful pictures, remarkable woman. I'll second Llaredo's thoughts. Also good to see you back, Mad Ivan
Let me join the list of those glad to see you back on this forum. And thank you for the wonderful pictures of those two great leaders. How could we have been so fortunate as to have them both in at the same time?
During the procession to the Capitol, Brit Hume made a remark yesterday which was especially poignant considering the death of his son many years ago.
Speaking of the huge number of mourners paying respects to President Reagan, he spoke of the funeral traditions in this country (and maybe in Great Britain, I confess I do not know). Many bring food along with a kind word, a hug, tears, cards, flowers. What matters is that to the family, what the family will remember is that you are there. He repeated that phrase many times.
"What matters is that you are there."
Mrs. Thatcher was there for our President so many years ago and today, in spite of the frailties of age and the effects of previous illness, she was here for President Reagan.
True friendship
As an American, I will never forget the friendship Mrs. Thatcher had for President Reagan and the friendship she had for the United States of America.
MadIvan, please accept our thanks as a nation and please relay those thanks to your fellow countrymen.
I was glad to see her, although it must have cost her to make the trip. Grief is often harder on a body than physical effort.
Becki
Did you happen to see video of it? Others posted that she bowed, or curtseyed.
Her expression is so eloquent; I tear up at each sight.
Dan
Regards, Ivan
Dang, am I getting old, or what? Just the mental image starts the waterworks. If I could see it... yikes.
She is a classy, substantial lady. What a Godsend the two were in power at the same time. (And good she was there to shoot a "Now, don't you go wobbly, George" at RR's successor.)
Dan
After the meetings, the cleaners would have had to use extra cleansing solution to get the blood off the walls. Clinton would be rushed to hospital needing a transfusion. Mrs. Thatcher saying only as she could, "Just a little local difficulty." ;)
Regards, Ivan
Love her hat. I was surprised that Mrs. Reagan didn't wear one. God Bless Mrs. Thatcher for her love and support for President Reagan and the USA.
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