Because I Am Not Done; What I saw at the funeral, part 2.

Opinion Journal ^ | 6.17.04 | Peggy Noonan

[ambrose]

Because I Am Not Done What I saw at the funeral, part 2.

Thursday, June 17, 2004 12:01 a.m. EDT

All week people who had waited in line to see Ronald Reagan's casket at the Rotunda would walk up to me wherever I was, introduce themselves and say, "There were these young soldiers and sailors, we waited on line six hours, and we all got in at 2 a.m., and as they rounded the casket they would stop, every one of them, and salute." Or, "Did you see the American Indians in full ceremonial dress who came and stood in silence?" And, "We were in bed at home and it was 10 at night and we were watching the news and suddenly we looked at each other and said: We gotta go. So we got the train schedule and took the overnight and got to Washington at 7 a.m. and stood on line."

[Sabertooth]

The morning of the state funeral hundreds and hundreds of us were in line to get into the Cathedral. It was to start at 11:30, but we are Republicans: we were in line at 9:15. I saw Bob Kimmitt, formerly of the National Security Council, and Marlin Fitzwater, former Reagan press secretary, who sometimes came into my office to lie on the couch and smoke his cigar and hide out from reporters. Hundreds who worked in Reagan's White House were in line, on the sidewalk. Six or seven feet above us, to the right, was a black cast-iron fence that marked the beginning of the high lawn of the Cathedral. Suddenly at the fence, looking down at us, were Sam Donaldson and Barbara Walters. They had come by to say hello. Sam called down to us in a merry way, and we answered. Then I said to everyone around me, "In honor of the boss, when Sam talks to us let's cup our ears and say, 'I can't hear you!' " Everyone laughed.

Sam said something. We put our hands to our ears. "We can't hear you!," we chanted. Sam called down something else. "We can't hear you!," we chanted. "It's the helicopter! Sorry!"

Because of geography, I was fortunate to see quite a bit of History pass by last week, first hand: paying respects at President Reagan's Repose, supporting Mrs. Reagan at his final motorcade, attending the Little Brown Church reception (where the Reagan's were married), and the reopening of the Reagan Library.

Call me greedy, I guess, but I sure wouldn't have minded standing in line at the Cathedral among the folks who served President Reagan so well in Washington, as they waited to pay their final respects. What a sad, but remarkably heartening week.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[isthisnickcool]

Speaking of the music. I found This. They appear to be associated with the Reagan Libray. I could not find any music from the various tributes there. I'll call them when they open and see if they have an idea where a high quality CD can be purchased of the music. From whoever recorded it locally.

[iceskater]

Let me know if you can find out anything on the CD.
Thanks!!

[ontos-on]

Thanks for pinging me on the Peggy Noonan article. If I am not on the regular ping list, please add me. Thanks.

[cgk]

Several moments in this "article" are truly moving: the water bottles, the restaurant standing in silence, the last paragraph about the incoming plane... Wow.

[BraveMan]

But everyone was filing through the line, following the rules. No one seemed to be ducking through the ropes to cut ahead as the line zig zagged ahead, even as everyone was told the wait was five or six hours more--so long that they would likely not reach the front of the line before viewing hours were over.

With one notable exception . . .

[nutmeg]

Wow, thanks for those links about the Reagan record. Will read ASAP.

[McGavin999]

I love my country, and I love my countrymen even more. I love that we are patient, and for the most part good natured, I love our loyalty and humanity and ingrained heroism.

[Ruth A.]

Thank you.

This music is part of our patrimony, every bit as much as the trees and mountains. Our children, in our civic life, have for a generation been denied these songs. The moral and artistic equivalent of river polluters have decided we need to hear--I don't know, what songs do they play now in school, at events? "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"?
We need a new environmental movement--a musical conservation movement aimed at saving and preserving the old songs. The rivers and mountains and plains are so beautiful and need saving. But what have you lost if you lose the sound of your ancestors' souls singing? Even more, I think.

I have thought this often recently. What a loss. I subbed in one class and there was a "peace" prelude to "This is My Country." To what end, I thought? I am so dissatisfied at Christmas when the insipid modern music sung by school choirs cannot match even the musical beauty of Christmas standards.

[Amelia]

The rivers and mountains and plains are so beautiful and need saving. But what have you lost if you lose the sound of your ancestors' souls singing? Even more, I think.

Too true.

[Badray]

Thanks for the ping.

[AUsome Joy]

Thanks for this link. I wish it were a DVD.

[AUsome Joy]

This music is part of our patrimony, every bit as much as the trees and mountains. Our children, in our civic life, have for a generation been denied these songs.

I have my 7 year old granddaughter with me for two weeks. She sat so quietly and watched the whole procession down Constitution Ave. while we watched it on TV. She also watched a lot of the funeral. She recognized a lot of the songs and knew the words to many. Then she showed me a CD that she had brought with her called, United We Stand Songs of America. The CD even has the words to Hail to the Chief.
I didn't even know it had words. It probably also helps that she attends a private school.

[onyx]

I really like reading Peggy's
first hand observations. She's
a better off-the-cuff speaker
than she realizes. She speaks
the truth and that always flows
easily and eloquently.

[dstarr]

Thanks for the link to Part 1.

[dstarr]

Thanks to you too for the link.

[Samwise]

Reagan the man left us ten years ago, but his spirit seemed to always remain with us.

Sometimes I wonder why things are the way they are. Reagan's illness was one of those horribly unfair things that defy explanation.

After last week, I'm beginning to think that Reagan hung around for a reason. I'm not quite sure how to express this feeling, and I hope no one takes it wrong because I mean this with respect and admiration.

Just as his life had meaning and purpose, so too did Ronald Reagan's death.

I can think of no greater accolade to give a man.

[Reagan Man]

>>>Reagan's illness was one of those horribly unfair things that defy explanation.

I know what you mean.

There is an explanation. Reagan more then likely inherited Alzheimers from his Mother. It ran in the family. 83 good years out of 93 total years on Earth. Not bad. Not bad at all.

[Vision Thing]

Reagan's illness was one of those horribly unfair things that defy explanation.

Considering the glorious life that he lived, I'm sure he'd choose it all over again, even if he knew how it would end.