Reagan's body was flown to Andrews AFB in Maryland and transported by motorcade to the Capitol Rotunda. My father is a retired Air Force officer, so we went to Andrews, and lined up along the road with thousands of other servicemen, veterans, and their families to pay our respects.
We wanted to go to the Reagan Library for the viewing there. Our house bordered the Library grounds, and we could’ve walked it in about 10 minutes but weren’t allowed to walk in. For security, everyone had to be shuttled from Moorpark College to the Library. We drove toward the college and weren’t even able to get there because the traffic was backed up for miles, so we took an exit and went home again. (The shuttles ran past our bedroom window for two days and a night.) We never did get to see him.
I did get some good photos of the impromptu memorial with flowers, signs, and other mementos; and of the hearses (there were two); the funeral entourage, press corps, etc. We were allowed to stand at the subdivision entrance as the motorcade passed within several feet. So touching and sad.
At that time I recall thinking we’d never have a President who would be as good; I think I may have been wrong.