Posted on 06/08/2004 8:30:29 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. - Californians by the tens of thousands paid their respects to former President Reagan, backing up traffic on a freeway and forcing surprised organizers to extend the viewing period Tuesday by four hours.
Some came in their Sunday best, while others looked ready to hit the beach in shorts and flip-flops. All fell silent at the first glimpse of Reagan's flag-draped casket.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library announced Tuesday that it had extended the end of viewing hours from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. "due to the overwhelming response for those showing respect for President Reagan."
People must be in line for shuttle buses, which take viewers from a gathering point at a nearby college to the library itself, by 3 p.m.
"Reagan was truly the people's president and you can see it here," said Maura Ripsen of Anaheim Hills, who came to the library Monday with her husband, Steve, son Sean, 6, and daughter Katherine, 23 months.
By 6 a.m. Tuesday, more than 40,000 people had gone through the library, said Duke Blackwood, the library's executive director.
"We knew it was going to be high, but quite honestly we didn't know it was going to be this high," said Gary Foster, a Reagan family spokesman.
The demand caused traffic to grind to a halt overnight on the Ronald Reagan Freeway, with delays of up to four hours, said Mary Clark, a California Highway Patrol dispatcher. Mourners who made it through the traffic reported waiting up to eight hours for a shuttle bus at Moorpark College, even though the number of buses was doubled to nearly 50.
Foster said by one estimate, 17,000 people were waiting in the staging area. All had their belongings searched and passed through metal detectors before being allowed to board.
Reagan died Saturday at 93 after nearly a decade battling Alzheimer's disease.
On Wednesday, his body is to be flown to Washington, D.C., where there will be a ceremony that night in the Capitol Rotunda. The body will then lie in state.
Friday will be a national day of mourning, with all federal offices and major financial markets closed. The state funeral will be held at Washington National Cathedral, with President Bush) delivering a eulogy.
The body will then be returned to the Reagan library for burial Friday evening.
Those passing by the former president's coffin were a cross-section of America: retirees, business people, families, veterans.
"How blessed the whole world is that he held office for as long as he did," said Navy Ensign Laurie Zimmet, 40, of Los Angeles. "As far as I'm concerned, he's the greatest president of the 20th century."
The public expression of sympathy began after Reagan's body, accompanied by wife Nancy Reagan, 82, and his children, was brought Monday from a Santa Monica mortuary by motorcade to the library in the Ventura County hills northwest of Los Angeles.
In a simple service, the Rev. Michael Wenning told the Reagan family, "As we were in procession, I couldn't help but think of the love and the outpouring that has begun in the nation for a great president, a great world leader and a faithful servant of almighty God."
After the service, Mrs. Reagan walked to the casket and placed her left cheek to it. Her daughter, Patti Davis, hugged her tightly and other family members joined them around the casket.
The library then opened to throngs who were bused about five miles from the college, which closed to provide parking.
Among the first were Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and wife Maria Shriver, who stood silently, crossed themselves and left. But most of those who came were regular folks.
Patricia Roccaforte, 61, of Tustin, said Reagan had made her feel safe.
"I was praying the whole time he was alive we would live up to all he thought we could do," she said. "He was so optimistic about us. He's in the hands of God now — as he always has been."
A man in cowboy boots and jeans held his hat over his heart.
"On my way out, I saluted him — both of us did," said Don Procter, 83, a former Marine who came from Altadena with his wife, Lorraine.
Though brief, the time in the library was enough for Scotia Alves, 51, of Camarillo, who said she and her husband started a car stereo company in their garage at the beginning of Reagan's presidency.
"Reaganomics was good for business. ... I felt gratitude to him," she said.
Charles Shelton, 38, a Los Angeles lawyer, was struck by the range of people.
"It's a testament, how broad his appeal was," said Shelton, who voted for Green Party candidate Ralph Nader in 2000 and plans to vote for Democrat John Kerry but called himself a "Reagan Republican."
"He's a different type of Republican ...," Shelton said. "He was tough, yet graceful."
Leslie Williams, 48, of Mission Viejo, said she has been a Marine reservist since age 18.
"My commander in chief epitomized the will of the greatest country on Earth to pursue freedom for all freedom-loving people," she said.
Salvador Ayala, 74, came from Simi Valley with three other veterans.
"He won the Cold War without firing a shot. He was the greatest president that we ever had, and I'm a Democrat," said Ayala, who served in the Korean War.
ping
uh-oh...the 100,000 D.C. estimate might be low.
This turnout is awesome.
Prayers are being answered ...and it's going to grow and grow!
I really wanted to go, but the traffic is impossible for me to deal with.
Hillary is probably having a gallbladder attack over this...
When I heard this estimate over the weekend I felt that they were way off. By bet is 400,000 at a minimum.
My prayer for the viewing, mourning and honor of Ronald Reagan
Clinton has his thousands, but Reagan has his hundreds of thousands!! (or something like that)
BTTT
You GOTTA see it. There's lines of cars backed up for over 3 hours on the freeway in BOTH directions. The line is MASSIVE snaking through the entire school five deep. 50 buses are moving and it's not making a dent. The wait is a solid 8 hours in line.
Last night they estimated that 23000 people were in line! This is so great. Also saw the Freeper mobile home parked right smack in the middle of the parking lot. What a wonderful tribute.
Looks like they are having more that that just at the library.
I had a fleeting thought of hitting it last night at 2am, but it seems like a few other thousand had the same idea. Looks like I'll be swinging by this fall when it's a little bit more peaceful.
so wonderful.
The Dems are relieved -- with good reason -- that he didn't pass away in late October.
Am frequently watching the line on CBSnews web feed.
Some Air Force Cadets just came through the line. One, turned to the casket, saluted. Very touching; very respectful young men.
I just wish I could be there. The American people are speaking here...watch now as the dems and oher politiicans who have not a shred of track record or real feeling associated with what Reagan accomplished scramble to try and line themselves up with it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.