Posted on 06/11/2004 9:37:43 PM PDT by ReaganandDubyaForever
Text of remarks by Michael Reagan at Friday's burial service for former President Reagan, as transcribed by eMediaMillWorks Inc.:
Good evening. I'm Mike Reagan. You knew my father as governor, as president. But I knew him as dad. I want to tell you a little bit about my dad. A little bit about Cameron and Ashley's grandfather because not a whole lot is ever spoken about that side of Ronald Reagan.
Ronald Reagan adopted me into his family 1945. I was a chosen one. I was the lucky one. And all of his years, he never mentioned that I was adopted either behind my back or in front of me. I was his son, Michael Edward Reagan.
When his families grew to be two families, he didn't walk away from the one to go to the other. But he became a father to both. To Patti and then Ronnie, but always to Maureen, my sister, and myself.
We looked forward to those Saturday mornings when he would pick us up, sitting on the curve on Beverly Glen as his car would turn the corner from Sunset Boulevard and we would get in and ride to his ranch and play games and he would always make sure it ended up a tie.
We would swim and we would ride horses or we'd just watch him cut firewood. We would be in awe of our father. As years went by and I became older and found a woman I would marry, Colleen, he sent me a letter about marriage and how important it was to be faithful to the woman you love with a P.S.: You'll never get in trouble if you say I love you at least once a day, and I'm sure he told Nancy every day "I love you" as I tell Colleen.
He also sent letters to his grandchildren. He wasn't able to be the grandfather that many of you are able to be because of the job that he had. And so he would write letters. He sent one letter to Cameron, said: "Cameron, some guy got $10,000 for my signature. Maybe this letter will help you pay for your college education. He signed it, Grandpa. P.S. Your grandpa is the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan. He just signed his sign."
Those are the kinds of things my father did.
At the early onset of Alzheimer's disease, my father and I would tell each other we loved each other and we would give each other a hug. As the years went by and he could no longer verbalize my name, he recognized me as the man who hugged him. So when I would walk into the house, he would be there in his chair opening up his arms for that hug, hello, and the hug goodbye. It was a blessing truly brought on by God.
We had wonderful blessings of that nature. Wonderful, wonderful blessings that my father gave to me each and every day of my life.
I was so proud to have the Reagan name and to be Ronald Reagan's son. What a great honor. He gave me a lot of gifts as a child. Gave me a horse. Gave me a car. Gave me a lot of things. But there's a gift he gave me that I think is wonderful for every father to give every son.
Last Saturday, when my father opened his eyes for the last time, and visualized Nancy and gave her such a wonderful, wonderful gift.
When he closed his eyes, that's when I realized the gift that he gave to me, the gift that he was going to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He had, back in 1988 on a flight from Washington, D.C. to Point Mugu, told me about his love of God, his love of Christ as his Savior. I didn't know then what it all meant. But I certainly, certainly know now.
I can't think of a better gift for a father to give a son. And I hope to honor my father by giving my son Cameron and my daughter Ashley that very same gift he gave to me.
Knowing where he is this very moment, this very day, that he is in Heaven, and I can only promise my father this. Dad, when I go, I will go to Heaven, too. And you and I and my sister, Maureen, that went before us, we will dance with the heavenly host of angels before the presence of God. We will do it melanoma and Alzheimer's free. Thank you for letting me share my father, Ronald Wilson Reagan.
© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
**On June 11, 2004, Jane Wyman broke decades of silence regarding her former husband, President Ronald Reagan, saying, "America has lost a great president and a great, kind and gentle man."**
That is why I appreciated FoxNews...no "commentary" during the family funeral! Chris Matthews is just another inside the beltway wonk who writes and believes his own articles!
What a wonderful thing to say
The things the 'traditional' leftist media would have never had let us known about the man....who he was and what he stood for...
What a treasure America will always have in Ronald Wilson Reagan
I listened to Fox exclusively, and do not remember Matthews making any comment criticizing Michael Reagan's eulogy. The only 'wearing on sleeve' comment I heard was from Ron Jr.
Can you tell me where to find Reagan's farewell letter to america? My wife hasn't read it....thanks in advance.
It's not unusual for the children of the first marriage to be shunted aside by the second wife, especially when the first marriage ended in divorce. That's common, In fact, Michael and Maureen got better treatment than happens often with first-marriage kids, who are basically discarded and forgotten. Among the Reagan kids, the ill will has gone both ways over the years. Michael once wore a t-shirt that said, "I'm not the dancer." Ron Jr. couldn't have like that!
I didn't know much about the family but I couldn't figure out why during the funeral and later at the library one child was in the background. And that one child looked so sad. Getting a better understanding now. I feel so sorry for him.
As someone mentioned - in the Rotunda, the second row held Maureen's husband and his fiancee and so Michael was on the third with his family. Probably no problem there.
It is also natural for the grieving mother to be comforted by her children who are responsible for her. She is not Michael's mother.
At the California services, I wondered if someone had clued them in as to the perception of discord and that they all seemed more unified. It would just appear Michael and Ron have absolutely nothing in common and therefore are not close.
Maybe Ron should have bought a shirt saying "I am the dancer!".
Didn't Ron Jr. dance with the (excuse my spelling) Jeoffry Ballet?
Michael Reagan is as classy as his beloved dad. Rest in peace sir and when you see Jesus you will see peace.
The more I read, the more I feel sad for Michael.
At the end of the Wyman statement was this:
Wyman has been in contact with Michael Reagan since the former president's death.
Why is that sentence in there? If they had a normal relationship, one think it obvious that Wyman would be in contact with Michael. It makes me think that Michael and Wyman have little contact.
I only watched Matthews a few times several years ago. The way he yells across everyone and looks into the camera in an egomaniacal way was enough to turn me off; his politics are also enough.
People like him would be better off themselves plus be doing the world a favor if they had jobs tilling the soil. It would give them a lot of time by themselves to rethink their outlook, and no audience.
I thought his speech was the best of anyone's including the President. I cried like a baby when he told of his promise.
Me too!!!
also, don't forget that Michael and Maureen are the only kids that gave the Reagan grandkids. something that has to sting Patti and Ron.
Also, I don't think Ron or Patti have the same faith as Michael, or any faith for that matter. I think they have disdain for Michael's faith, and his expression of faith.
Ron is a bitter, sarcastic person. You have to look at their lives as a whole, Michael Reagan has a solid, solid career in broadcasting, has a solid marriage, two kids and an exemplary testimony of Jesus Christ. Ron is a, well I don't know what he is. For some reason, I have some sympathy for Patti, she truly looks like a person who is lost, and has wandered aimlessly through life.
One thing I am convinced of, is that there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people that love Michael Reagan, admire his kind and gentle manner, and revere his testimony for Christ. For me, Michael's impact on my personal life is greater than his father's, because he demonstrates how to share your testimony for Christ.
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