[TexasTransplant]

Wow, just wow, I am proud to be an American.

Find a better Country anywhere and I will Gaurantee you the Real Estate is undervalued.

[AzSteven]

If anyone left CSPAN on after the funeral Friday, for hours there was a continuous line of people passing in front of the coffin; bowing, saluting, making the sign of the cross, or otherwise paying their respects. The interesting part was, about 2 hours later, they were still going by. At that time, the official mourners were long gone; the review was now teh library staff, the military bands and honor guards, the police, and others who helped to make the funeral go so smoothly. CSPAN kept running the video until well after full dark; at least two hours, and it looked like the end of the line was nowhere near when they started a full repeat of the day's events.

I would love to know how long the procession went on.

[dstarr]

This was so awesome to read. I'd love to read Part 1 since this is Part 2.

[Reagan Man]

Reading Peggy's words, for a little bit, I got that lump back in my throat and those watery eyes returned.

Last week was a monumental historical event, that only someone like a Ronald Reagan could create with his passing. A week I will never forget. Reagan the man left us ten years ago, but his spirit seemed to always remain with us.

There are many Americans that can't seem to comprehend and fully appreciate, who Ronald Reagan really was and what he accomplished as President. I feel fortunate to have been alive during the Reagan Era and took advantage of the opporunity to campaign for him on three different occasions.

Thank you Mister President.

[nutmeg]

read later bump

[SuziQ]

We need a new environmental movement--a musical conservation movement aimed at saving and preserving the old songs.

I'm enjoying Peggy's rememberances of the week of Reagan's funeral and the folks she met back up with who were her friends, or co-workers in the Reagan White House.

I loved the music as well, though one of my favorites was the music from an old British hymn (I think). The British hymn is "Jerusalem" and it was played at the end of Chariots of Fire. I thought it was fitting that the music that played as Reagan was taken from the Cathedral was a song from a recent movie. "Mansions of the Lord" was played at the end of "We Were Soldiers".

If you like American gospel and old-timey religious music, you HAVE to listen to the most recent, and maybe final, recording by Anonymous 4, called "American Angels". We saw them during their farewell tour this past winter, and the music was glorious!

[risk]

I saw a young black woman in a Capitol Police uniform simultaneously point tourists toward safety as she ran, resolutely, toward the Capitol she thought was about to be leveled. They were like New York City firemen. They are something.

bump to the end of http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110005225

[Khurkris]

An eloquent and lovingly constructed piece.

[garylmoore]

Good one Ambrose.

[dennisw]

good one!!!!

[kimmie7]

Wonderful article, as always from Peggy. Am eagerly anticipating more.

[Pokey78]

Peggy ping

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[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.

[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.

[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.

[I_dmc]

It occurs to me that with all the attacks, with all the hate, what this country desparately needed was a chance to come together as one, once again. As we did on 9/11. Perhaps this was the Reagans' last great gift to us all.

[don-o]

Had missed this earlier;

The music played in California had me crying like a baby. It was just so....I dunno, right.