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Posted on 06/10/2004 8:54:43 AM PDT by 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.
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Thank you so much for sharing your experience!!
How were you dressed. I watch on cspan and I see more people dressed formally but I am troubled by people who believe shorts are appropriate. (ok 1 or 2 who are there by accident but it seems way to many made a consciouse decision.)
At least they are removing their hats.
I have my own Reagan encounter story --
I was attending community college in the San Jose, CA, area in 1970. Since high school days, I had done volunteer work for the Santa Clara County Republican Central Committee (registration of voters, GOTV, helping at rallies, that sort of thing). At this time, Pres. Nixon had just approved the tactic of following the Vietcong into Cambodia. The libs, of course, were scandalized by the "escalation" of the war. The local GOP decided to do a petition drive to send signatures of support for the policy to Pres. Nixon.
When the petitions were handed-out to volunteers at the GOP headquarters, Governor Reagan was to speak that night at a fundraiser for a local GOP assemblyman, running for re-election. I got the hairbrained idea that I'd show up at the Hyatt in San Jose (where the function was being held), and see if I could get Gov. Reagan to sign line #1 of my petition. I hung around the entrance where I figured he and his party would enter the hotel. His limo eventually rolled up, security guards started pouring out of everywhere, but I didn't give my intentions a second thought. As Reagan approached the door, I moved in, blurting out, "Governor, would you sign this petition supporting Pres. Nixon's Cambodia policy?" He stopped, turned, and said, "By all means." He signed my petition, I thanked him as he handed it back, and he turned and headed into the hotel. A guy I knew who took photographs for the local Republican Party was on hand to take photos of Reagan's visit, and he snapped a picture of the Governor signing my petition. He later gave me a copy. There was Ronald Reagan, holding my clipboard, signing the petition, me on the left of the photo with a big goofy grin on my face, and big burly security guy in between us. You can imagine, Ronald Reagan's signature at the top of my petition generated a lot of other signatures. The executive director of the county GOP made a photocopy of the Reagan-signed petition, allowing me to keep the original. I still have it, and the photo, buried in my file cabinet at home.
I caught the Santorum conference you mentioned. I enjoyed it very much. All except for Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Oregon), whose pessimism about GWB's reelection chances annoyed me. He asked Peggy Noonan, "as a woman," how GWB could communicate better to women about his Iraq policies, or else, Gordon said, GWB wouldn't be reelected. Well, I'm a woman, and I think both Gordon's question and Noonan's answer sucked.
What? Did Bill Clinton show up in his boxers?
You're right. I also have a signed picture of Nancy and Ronald Reagan, framed, and on the wall of my office at home. But the petition, and the photo of Gov. Reagan and a very skinny college freshman is more personal.
YOu should take them out... and get them matted and framed. That is one terrific story. Thanks for sharing.
Hi friends,
I went down to the Capitol at 3AM to get in line to pay my respects to President Reagan. Waited in a very cordial line for about 3 1/2 hours (including the strangely-behaving-man-leaving-a-backpack (but it wasn't a bomb) scare...was right by where I was) and finally got up to the top of the hill and into the Rotunda of the Capitol. Totally silent, with the 4 honor guards at each corner of the almost larger than life flag draped casket. You could feel the joyful solemnity. I said silently, "Lord Jesus please say hello to President Reagan for me." To which the immediate cheerful reply (in my thoughts) was "Hi Ralph!" I thought back, "You know me?" and the thought said back, "I do now!" .... Just my mind playing tricks? Perhaps, or perhaps not.
I then slowly and reverently left, and when leaving they gave us all an engraved card marking the occasion, and outside the Capitol building we were invited to sign guest books (just like at a regular funeral).
All in all a terrific experience. I'm convinced, due to the righteousness of Christ, Mr. Reagan is with his Lord and Savior now... According to his adopted son evangelical Christian Michael Reagan, President Reagan had on numerous occasions, in his own private personal way, expressed his clear faith, not just vaguely in God, but specifically in Jesus Christ.
The long goodbye of altheimer's is over, and Ronald Reagan is having a great time thinking clear thoughts -- more lucid and memorable than ever, no doubt (he's probably making even our Lord smile from corny jokes :) ).
Anyway, I've got a groggy day ahead.
God bless you all, God bless the Reagans, and of course, God bless America!
Sincerely,
Ralph W. Davis
I got back this AM after waiting for 4.5 hours in line and it was worth every minute. The crowds were in good spirits as they made their way through the mazes of lines, but after we got through the metal detectors, the mood changed. When you exit the final security check, you walk out onto the main level of the Capitol's West Front and there was silence. A solemness took over as people made their way to the entrance into the Capitol. From there people ascended a staircase to the Rotunda. I passed through a doorway into the Rotunda filled with the faithful, the honor guard, the great artwork of the Rotunda, and the flag draped coffin. Several people cried and the whole minute inside the Rotunda was exceptional.
I had on brown pants, a light blue button down, a red-white-and blue tie, a sportjacket and a flag pin. It was hot so I took off the jacket and tie from about 1pm till the flyover. I wouldn't disparage those that wore more casual clothes though, it was hot and some people are on vacation.
Oh Rob, thank you so much for that description, it was almost like we were there with you.
Thanks for conveying your experience, RFG!
Thanks for the link, PKM!
Thanks for sharing my experience with me, I am glad that I could make it.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for your positive comments, I appreciate them!
Thanks for reading, hope it felt like being there a little bit... That was my intention anyway.
What a fabulous report and a special place in history. Thank you for sharing your day with us.
One More Tribute
Bill
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