LIVE THREAD: Reagan State Funeral Ceremony: Arrival at the Capitol

www.freerepublic.com | June 9, 2004

[Howlin]

Arrival at Andrews Air Force Base scheduled for 5 P.M. EDT.

Beginning of procession: 16th and Constitution at 6:00 P.M.

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The procession begins at 16 th Street and Constitution Avenue with the ceremonial transfer of remains of former President Ronald Reagan from a hearse to a horse-drawn caisson for the processional to the Capitol. The casket transfer will take place at 6 p.m. and caisson continues east with formal military escort.

The public will be able to pay final respects while the remains lie in state in the Capitol rotunda from 7:00 p.m. through Friday, June 11, 2004 at 9:30 a.m.

[PhiKapMom]

The poem, High Flight, has over the years become a mantra to pilots.
It is reproduced here as a tribute to, and in memory of pilots of all generations.

---

High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high unsurpassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941

[StevieB]

what's the significance of 21?

My hunch is that it's related to the number of salutes -- such as a 21-gun salute. If I remember correctly, 21 guns is reserved for Heads of State. 21 represents the highest level of salute.

[BlessedByLiberty]

Thank you!

Will catch up when we return tonight. The reverence in which the public is holding this past President it heartwarming.

About Kerry's photo-op yesterday - someone said to me a little while ago he thinks Kerry is now going to position himself as a Reagan style Democrat and that's what the pictures were all about! I think he may be frighteningly correct.

[Pylon]

Ted Kennedy is there. Must be an open bar.

[steveo]

'The swimmer' is looking around for the booze cart!

[HiJinx]

How many car alarms do you think those F15s set off?

Wait until they do the 50-gun salute.

It never fails...some idiot Captain parks near the parade field at the end-of-month review and sets his alarm...like somebody is going to come on post and steal a car with 10,000 soldiers in attendance!

[mystery-ak]

Cameras should have focused n the remaining three planes...to show the missing man formation..

[Normal4me]

hehe...he also said that when Clintoon dies they will fly a stained blue dress at half mast...lol

[Mo1]

The Democrats that hate Reagan are probably puking as they watch this. They can't stand this show of respect to a Republican President

THey can go pound sand

[Howlin]

They only took RFK's body from New York to D.C. -- and it took a long dang time.

[SirTaurus]

OK, now LET'S VOTE!!! I second that! No objections so moved

[samadams2000]

He's sweating right now...deep down he knows he's not worthy...

would be surprised if he pull a political hammy and pulled out...

[surrey]

When I told my daughter that the Reagan's had planned this week of mourning she said that Bubba will probably plan his to span 2 weeks. I'm sure he'll try

[Howlin]

Wouldn't that be great.......LOL.

[PhiKapMom]

F-15 Strike Eagles were perfect! They are out of Seymour Johnson -- great job!

[lawgirl]

I must have been too busy yacking on here! Darn!

[Serb5150]

LOL!!

[aBootes]

Oh man. I'm sitting in my house in Burtonsville, MD, about 20 miles north of DC and grouchy because I didn't get to go downtown. I just read about the flyover -- and they just flew over me as well. Cool.

[BurbankKarl]

My buddy watched as Kerry cut in line in Simi Valley to get his photo op yesterday. He said people were booing....

[Cboldt]

for those of you that lived that funeral how does this compare?

Fewer open microphones for Kennedy. Nation was in shock. Very somber.

This proceeding is and should be different. Sorrow? Sure. I'm bawling. BUt also happy memories, and an example of how to live, and request to emulate the example, left by the deceased.