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Mourners wait 7 hours to farewell Reagan. 09/06/2004. ABC News Online
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Former first lady Nancy Reagan lays her head on the casket of her husband, Ronald Reagan. (Reuters) |
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Mourners wait 7 hours to farewell Reagan
Tens of thousands of Americans have paid a personal tribute to former US president Ronald Reagan, waiting up to seven hours to file past his coffin ahead of a state funeral.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library stayed open through the night to cope with the swarms of people awaiting their turn to file past the coffin of the "Cold War Warrior" of the 1980s.
The US's 40th president died on Sunday at age 93.
More than 70,000 people are expected to see the coffin during the 34 hours it is on display at the library.
Traffic jams built up through the night on the Ronald Reagan Freeway from Los Angeles to the library in Simi Valley.
Mr Reagan's widow, Nancy, set the tone for the outpouring of affection when she briefly pressed her cheek against the casket after it was carried into the library.
During a 15-minute service, Mrs Reagan stared down as her daughter, Patti, tightly clutched her hand.
'Deeply touched'
Mr Reagan's long-time minister, the Reverend Michael Wenning, praised him as a "great president, a great world leader", who had "reminded us of the great nation we are".
A military honour guard made up of representatives of all the armed services mounted a solemn watch over the catafalque as the round-the-clock viewing began.
Public mourners were led by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who like his "hero" and role model Mr Reagan is a Hollywood star turned politician.
The executive director of the Reagan library, R Duke Blackwood, says Mr Reagan's family is "deeply touched by this tremendous outpouring of support and regrets that everyone will not be able to be accommodated".
The coffin will be taken to Washington on Wednesday to lie in state at the US Capitol ahead of the US's first state funeral in 31 years on Friday.
It will return to California the same day for a sunset burial at the library.
The Secret Service, police and other law officers in the US Capitol are gearing up for three days of ceremonies, with 150,000 mourners expected to view Mr Reagan's casket as it lies in state in the US Capitol Rotunda.
Australian Governor-General Michael Jeffery will attend the funeral.
-- AFP
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