The Reagan Public Viewing- Freeper Thoughts

RobFromGa | June 9, 2004 | RobFromGa

[RobFromGa]

I just got back from a twenty four hour trip to Washington, D.C. to pay my respects to the great President Ronald Reagan. I was the 40th person from the general public to enter the Rotunda and see the flag-draped casket with my own eyes. Here are a few of my thoughts from the day:

I arrived into DC at 1015 am from Atlanta, and dropped my bag by the hotel and headed for the Capitol on the Metro from Pentagon City. When I got to the line area it was about 11:10 and there were about 30 people ahead of me. I called Kristinn of the DC Chapter and gave him a heads-up on what was going on at the head of the line.

We were right on the Reflecting pool (20 feet back) facing the Capitol steps where Reagans casket was to be carried into the Rotunda. The Mall and the Washington monument was behind us.

Georgia was well represented in the first 30, there were two families and myself, so we had 8 of the first 35 or so people in line. The people around me in the line were all great— a couple from NC that had driven overnight to get there, and was driving back overnight, and a number of groups of 2-3 people that were all there like I was as “something that we just had to do”.

As noon passed, the sun got hot, and the water deliveries started coming, they dropped off 150,000 bottles of water along the street and started distributing to the crowd. At this point I took off my jacket and tie, to put it on later.

As an example of the goodness of conservatives, one man ordered 30 or more Domino’s pizzas at about 1:30 and proceeded to hand them out to the people in the line, one pizza per 4-5 people. He got a great cheer. The line really didn’t grow much at this point, only up to about 100-150 people by 3:00. But we speculated that people were lining up for the procession on Constitution Ave due to occur starting at 6pm.

As we were recalling our favorite Reagan stories, and comparing the parallels between Bush 43 and Reagan, one of the people next to me said “Why are those people running away from the Capitol?” We figured that there was something they were running to see, but two minutes later the Capitol police started yelling at us to “RUN AND GET AWAY NOW”, some asked what’s going on , they said, “WE WERE TOLD TO EVACUATE AND THAT’s WHAT WE’RE DOING—RUN AND LEAVE YOUR STUFF.” People moved fast yet stopping to help people who needed assistance, and when we got a few blocks away, someone heard that there was an Unidentified Plane that was in restricted airspace in the vicinity of the Capitol”.

A few minutes later, the ALL CLEAR was given and we all got back to our positions in line without incident, a few butted in, but they were moved back to the end of the line. But it added some excitement.

At 4:50 we were all listening on the radio of the person right behind me in line who it turned out later was one of the Speechwriters for Margaret Thatcher, and who was loaned to Ronald Reagan to collaborate on a speech for Reagan. This guy was quite interesting and had met both Thatcher and Reagan on numerous occasions. Anyway, I digress. We heard on the radio that the President’s body had arrived at Andrews and was to be brought in for the procession due to start at 6pm.

The line was now about 1000 people long and I talked to Kristinn on the phone who was set up to watch the Funeral procession on Constitution Ave. He said that there were people 6 and 10 deep along the procession route. I could see swarms of people over near the route. The general feeling was a somber celebration of the life of Ronald Reagan, a man who changed our lives.

There were police everywhere and secret service types in plain clothes watching everyone. One man set his bag down and walked ten feet away and they were on him checking ID and the bag within a minute. He was still being radioed in and checked out ten minutes later. They were taking no chances.

THE FLYOVER at about 640pm was AWESOME. It happened right above us. A single jat streaked in from the South at about 1000 feet altitude (really low), followed by four groups of four jets in formation spaced about 20 seconds apart. The fifth group of four jets streaked in and one of the four pulled into a climb almost straight up until he disappeared into the haze of heaven. The 21 had their “missing man” depart. Fitting and awe-inspiring.

A few minutes later, we saw the caisson arrive at the foot of the steps of the Capitol and the riderless horse was behind it. I wish I could have seen that close up, but I had made my choice to be in line for the Rotunda. They carried the casket up the steps with Honor guards lining the sides of the stairs. At this point, they started moving us up towards the Capitol, and through Security. We were listening to the funeral speech when we had to throw the radio away (security).

They made us check our cameras (to be returned on the other side) and turn off cell phones. Then we walked another couple hundred yards and we went through a bank of ten-twelve metal detecros, then we were walked up to the Capitol West veranda to the front of the Rotunda.

I then got to stand in the most amazing place for almost an hour while the funeral ended and the room was readied for visitors. I was standing on the edge of the veranda, right in front of the entrance to the Rotunda. Facing the Mall, the sun set over Washington. We all had the same thought- “the shining city on the hill”.

The view was unbelievable and the same as that seen by Ronald Reagan when he was the first to be inaugurated on this side of the Capitol “facing America”. I was moved by that view. People around me in line were saying prayers for America and President Reagan and President Bush from that spot. I read JeffHead’s words that I had carried with me for him.

At this point we were all lined up, and I counted my position in line, I was #40—and Ronald Reagan was our fortieth President. I remember thinking I am glad I wasn’t #42. (that was Margaret Thatcher’s speechwriter but I didn’t tell him). At 9:20 or so the door to the Capitol opened. And we were admitted.

A chaplain in white gloves greeted us and I shook his hand and thanked him for taking good care of President Reagan. Then a minute later I was in the Rotunda with the flag-draped casket. I was only in there for about two minutes, but that was enough. My thoughts in that room were that a Great Man was gone, that there were few like him in my lifetime, and that we could have used his voice so much these past ten years as he withered from his disease.

But the thing I took from this day and from this man was his ETERNAL OPTIMISM-, the fact that America is great because people are basically great when unshackled and allowed to live in Freedom. And the American system is what makes that possible.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

[mcmuffin]

Thank you for the wonderful report.

FloRida FReeper FRegards!

[adam_az]

Every time I've hear "Hail to the Chief" in the past week, I can't help but feel that the song was written specifically for President Reagan.

It has fit him more than any other President in my lifetime.



A message to my fellow FReepers:

Rather than honoring the man by naming things after him...

Honor his memory by standing up for his beliefs.


We shouldn't put his face on money or name on buildings...


We should honor him by halving the size of the Federal Bureaucracy!

[onyx]

Rob, your report brought me to tears.
I'm so happy you went and recounted it
to us in such wonderful detail.

The generosity of the guy who bought the pizzas
just goes to show you the character of so many
of the folks who adored President Reagan.

I am heartened to hear that the people in line
also think highly of GWB. I hope, come November,
we will win another one for the Gipper, complete
with a GOP sweep of the Senate and House seats
up for our taking.

(Howlin, don't miss this, and we'll be looking
for your report no later than tomorrow! )

[Xenalyte]

Wow. Thanks.

[JFC]

Rob,
God Bless You, thank you for sharing your story. All of us midwesterners ..... would love to stand in the lines. Thank you for representing us.


I kept turning on Cspan all through the night.. It is amazing and it shows we are America and the left will never win as long as people like this are in our country.


From West Texas I
Thank you thank you thank you!

[fhillary2]

I'll bet you HEARD that 21 gun salute?

I was in line from 10:30PM until 3:15AM. We had a strong Georgia presence amongst the hundreds of people we constantly passed snaking through the line. It was very inspiring entering the people's Capitol building to honor the greatest President of my lifetime. I've come close to crying so many times since President Reagan's death was announced. I thought for sure I would cry this morning when I finally got my chance to pay my respects; however the whole experience in line and reminiscing about President Reagan with fellow Americans was really comforting.

God Bless Nancy and the family. I'll miss President Reagan and I thank God for his leadership and legacy.

[backinthefold]

Rob,

Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us who couldnt go, but wished to have been there

Donna

[ken5050]

Tisis a great thread, as well as the other one just posted by joanie-f..and there are no doubt others..this citizen journalism is what FR is all about..can I suggest you find a way to link all these first-person accounts of the services, both here and i California, past, and tyet to come..under a separate banner somehow......thanks..

[OldFriend]

Last night Peggy Noonan commented that in the room where all the people from Reagan's two terms were congregated.....someone said to her young son. THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM CHANGED THE WORLD.......

That is the legacy of Ronald Reagan and it would seem that millions have not forgotten.

[cyncooper]

You have done a wonderful job of writing up your experience and it was not too long. I wanted to hear more!

I can just picture it, by your words combined with the images I've witnessed on tv.

It inspired me to put CSPAN back on to watch the public pay their respects.

[RobFromGa]

I'll bet you HEARD that 21 gun salute?

Loud and clear.

[Pyro7480]

Thanks Rob. I saw the entire procession from sidewalk at the intersection of Louisiana Ave. and Constitution Ave., just down the hill from the Capitol. I was awestruck to see all the service academies march by, especially the West Pointers in their wool uniforms. As the caisson was approaching, the jets practically flew right over us! It was an amazing sight. I was down to my last 9 pictures on my camera, so I had to make them count. I got a few pictures of the caisson and casket as it went by. After it passed by, I started back to my workplace to watch the state funeral events on TV. A noted Reagan historian and few other co-workers were with me as we watched. I watched him tear up at times. We both did when the Air Force Sargeants sang "America the Beautiful."

When Fox News went to O'Reilly, I watched Michelle Malkin being interviewed, then got dinner. I decided to rush back home to Virginia on the Metro, get some clothes for tomorrow, some toiletries so I could take a shower in the locker room in the basement, and before leaving my house again, said a short prayer. I got back onto the Metro, and met a father and son who had traveled up from Charleston, SC to pay their respects.

After dropping off my belongings at my workplace, I walked to the National Mall. I got in line at about midnight. I wound through the line for just under 5 hours, talking to people and reading from the book of Reagan quotes I had brought to people. I finally got into the Rotunda, and passed around the casket to the right and paid my respects with the Sign of the Cross, a short prayer, and a Reaganesque salute/wave. After staying in the Rotunda for just over a minute, I made my way out of the Capitol, receiving a memento card as I left.

I think it was totally worth waiting in line for hours, losing sleep in the process, to pay my final respects to a man who I thought was "The Nation's Grandfather" (he reminded me of my own grandfather, with the same slicked-back hair and wrinkles as my own) in the aftermath of the Challenger explosion (I was five at the time), and who was a great hero of mine in college, and still is. He will always be my hero. God bless Ronald Reagan!

[SuzanneC]

Thanks for your account, Rob. I'm so glad you were there to represent Georgia. Please share more of your thoughts and experience with us. Suzanne

[Sabertooth]

At this point we were all lined up, and I counted my position in line, I was #40—and Ronald Reagan was our fortieth President. I remember thinking I am glad I wasn’t #42. (that was Margaret Thatcher’s speechwriter but I didn’t tell him). At 9:20 or so the door to the Capitol opened. And we were admitted.

Thanks for your account. It's very touching how folks from all stations are humbled and moved by the Gentleman from Tampico.

I watched the proceedings yesterday on television, and was impressed by the formal and solemn majesty there. I was fortunate to have attended President Reagan's Repose in Simi Valley with my daughter, and note how the relatively simplicity of the proceedings here offer a sweet contrast that parallels the life of a man who rose from such humble beginngs to such brilliant heights. My appreciation of President Reagan will only grow with time.

How fortunate for you to have met Lady Thatcher's speechwriter in line. Any anecdotes?

Were there many children in line with you? There were many here, and it was truly American to see so many parents giving their kids an opportunity to touch History at such a young age.

[SuzanneC]

Thanks for the heads-up.

[Pyro7480]

Were there many children in line with you?

I saw tons of children and young people under 30 as I queued through the line. It was a sight to see!

[WoodstockCat]

Rob,

Thanks for representing GA. I would have given anything to be able to go up there but work just wouldn't allow it.
I've TIVO'd everything I can about this week and am compiling a DVD of Reagan speeches to add to it.

Thanks again!

[Pyro7480]

Another Freeper account: Viewing the Caisson, Bidding Farewell ...

[YaYa123]

Yung punk looking kid, chewing gum, looking totally disrespectful going through the line, but wait! His gray tee shirt has soldiers on it, and the words:

"Some gave some...Some gave all."

Another lesson in not making snap first judgements based on appearance.

[RobFromGa]

Were there many children in line with you? There were many here, and it was truly American to see so many parents giving their kids an opportunity to touch History at such a young age.

There were a lot of children, and a lot of young adults, right near me there was a 24 year old and 23 year old young men from Pittsburgh who said that they were political junkies and that Ronald Reagan was their hero.

A few other things, at the beginning there was one press reporter for every person in line, I spoke with print reporters from Scotland, Canada, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. I was on recorded interviews with several others.

And in the room with the casket, the Honor Guard was incredible, each one in their own perfectly pressed uniform, hats pulled low, at perfect attention. Like they would give their lives to protect Ronald Reagan, George Bush and this country. And that because of their skill they probably wouldn't have to. Peace through Strength.

I also now remember that they gave away a small remembrance card-- white with black letters as you exited the Rotunda. I have a scanned image I can send someone by regular email if you can post it for me.