This thread is dedicated to honor Ronald Reagan.

I'm only 36, so I don't have too many years of being politically aware. But it was during the Reagan years that I joined the Army, and started to take notice of the world around me.
In those years there is only one president that I have truly looked up to, and that is Reagan. He embodied a style of leadership and demeanor that I try to incorporate in my life.
He will be missed by many, and by me.

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

You posted thisright before I did, Beladonna

I personally think Reagan was our best president. Even if not our best, I don't think anybody can argue with him being one of the best in history.

Not much else to say. It was tragic about the alzheimer's too.

RIP Ronald.

I am very pleasantly surprised at how positive the coverage from all the Networks has been.

Ronald Reagan will certainly go down as one of the great Presidents in US history. Reagan was a man that "you always knew where you stood with him" according to Ted Kennedy.

He stood against the Soviets so adamantly that even our European friends thought he was provoking World War III. His "supply side" economic policy began one of the greatest periods of growth in US history.

The US has lost an admirable man today.

Here's to you, Ronnie!

Godspeed.

God Speed President Regan.

I still get chills to this day when I hear his speeches. What a great man. Thank God its over for him, he does not have to suffer anymore. Ill be making a donation to Alzheimers research.

God bless you, Mr President.

Ronald Reagan was a very effective leader who helped bring about a revolution in action, intellectual activity, and use of the government from the right side of the political aisle.

He was a great patriot who had a profound love for his country. He set about instilling a greater sense of pride in the United States and restoring confidence to the people of the United States in our political and economic institutions.

Although I strongly disagreed with President Reagan's politics at times, I must admit that I liked the man.

His affability was reassuring to many. He is an American icon. I am sorry he had to die without his memories. May he rest in peace.

My political awareness came about during the Iran Hostage situation.
I couldn't understand how we had fallen so low.
Reagan was, and is, my favorite President.
Strangely enough the only other President that has come close is Clinton.
Reagan acted as I thought a President should.
Stood defiant in the face of the Soviets.
Always positive about this country and what we could do, and were capable of.
Trickle down?? Never really thought any president deserved any credit for an economy good or bad. The economy exists independent of Presidents.
But I remember how tough it was for my family at that time and that with Reagan it got much better.
He infuriated the teachers at my school and that was a good sign to me—man was I burned out from all the “How wonderful the 60’s were “junk.
To this day if I hear Baez I have the urge to burn something.
If you ever watch his old campaign commercials you can see the difference in Reagan vs. other politicians. No standing around in shirtsleeves with blue collar guys like they ever would at any other time.
He talked about us and this country and what we could do.
Positive.
It is a shame about the Alzheimers. Maybe he could have reigned in the false conservatives who run the Republicans these days. Then again maybe its better this way.

From reading about Reagan and his policies, I can say that I don't agree with all of them. Still, he was a very likeable, intelligent, and moral man. He was a great patriot who truly loved this country almost as much as he loved Nancy. It's a shame that his last years were spent on this earth with no recollection of his past, but it's a comfort to know that he died peacefully. He did some wonderful things while he was in office, and even the staunchest liberal can't take that away from him. His character and virtue shone through in everything he did. I admire him more than anything for being able to take responsibility-- even when no fault may have even been on him-- in a town where it's so easy just to pass the buck and blame others. For all the division and squabbling in this country, I think we can all agree that Ronnie was a great man and a good leader. He will be very much missed by all.

Now, go out there and win just one for the Gipper.

I'm sorry for his alzheimers. I mourn the passing of all sentient beings, especially those who have not realized their true nature. But I do not give false glory where none is due.

Who will honor the memory of the many in Central America and the Middle East who died because of Reagan's policies? Ah, well, I would write more, but this is probably one of those occassions where, if you don't have something nice to say, say nothing.

Or you could start a new thread.

I'm at odds with a lot of Reagan's environmental and economic policies and attribute a portion of the credit he receives for bringing down the iron curtain to nostalgia--but when he spoke about that shining city on the hill he made even the most cynical Americans feel proud to be Americans. I can't remember picking up a trace of doublespeak when he addressed the country.

My condolences to Nancy and the Reagan family.

Like DTOM, this is the man I served under. Like Christopher, I became aware of the world around me during his presidency.

Mr. Reagan, Thank You.

My prayers go out to his family, and those in mourning.

jpr

I may not have been old enough to udnerstand all of the things Reagan did, but i do know he helped boost the morale of America when it seemed like America had lost it's shine. He rebuilt the American spirit

The first election I remember was that of Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter.
I was in the 3rd grade.

I have a lot of empathy for Ronald Reagan and his family. Like our former
president, my grandfather suffered from Altzheimer's, for the last 15 years
of his life. It is a very emotionally painful situation for loved ones to face;
he is here, but he is not really here. It's a terrible way to go...

Whether a person agreed or disagreed with his politics, there is no denying
that Ronald Reagan was an excellent orator and a very charismatic man.

I respectfully decline to interject false sincerity into this remembrance of President Ronald Reagan. The hero of one man's story is the villain for another and frankly speaking I did not like Reagan. I don't believe he was a great man, a good leader and I will not miss him.

For those of you that were relatives, friends, and admirers of Reagan you have my sympathy. I too have watched how Alzheimer can ravage a person. I would not wish that fate upon my worst enemy. I do not share in your reverence for the man, but I don't deny he had his charisma and appeal. Just not for me.

As an African-American, when Reagan won election I expected nothing good from his presidency but I was pleasantly surprised that it was Reagan that signed the bill making Martin Luther King Jr. birthday a national holiday. He did so over the objections of members of his own party such as Senator Jesse Helms who charged King was a communist.

Later I would come to learn Reagan had his reservations about the honor he had bestowed upon King. Slightly before the King Holiday was signed into law, Governor Meldrim Thompson of New Hampshire wrote a letter to Ronald Reagan expressing concerns about King’s morality and Communist connections. Ronald Reagan responded, "I have the reservations you have, but here the perception of too many people is based on an image, not reality. Indeed, to them the perception is reality."

Reagan's own words sum up how I feel about his presidency.

The passing of any President is not merely an opportunity to reflect kindly upon his tenure, but also to examine his record without genuflecting to maudlin sentimentality. In my assessment, while for some the Reagan years were a golden time for those left out of his narrow and myopic view of America, it was eight years divided between benign neglect and outright hostility toward civil rights, racial reconciliation and people of color.

Ronald Reagan will surely go down in History as one of the Great figures in history, not just US history, but World history.

He showed a wisdom and a grace that most strive for and only a handful have every come close to.

We will miss the Man and the message.

Surely no Man deserves this more then Ronald Reagan:

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be ever at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And the rain fall softly on your fields
And until we meet again, May God hold
you in the hollow of his hand

Rest in Peace Mr. Reagan

Reagan caught a lot of crap for being an actor-turned-politician. Many thought he had little if any credibility. Well that all changed soon after enetering office in 1981. Moammar Quadaffi had been harrasing ships on maneuvers in the Mediterranean. At one point, Libyian fighter fired at two of our jets on a carrier. The instigating planes were pursued, engaged and shot down.

He would tangle with Quaddafi over the years until in 1986, Reagan had enough. Reagan, VP Bush Sr., and Sec. of State Al Haig had been targeted for assassinations by Libyian terrorists, Quadaffi was still making life hard in the Mediterranean, and his unwavering support and praise of terrorism resulted in American deaths.

In April of 1986, Reagan (facing obstruction from France, who was a business partner with Libya {big susprise} and Italy, who did not allow our bombers to use their airspace, bombed Qadaffi's military HQ into the ground. Some casualties were taken, as were some unintentional Libyan casualties. But the result... Libya never screwed with us...again. We would crack down on the regime and do our best to punish those who would harm Americans.

He and his wife battled drugs, communism, and terrorism, and did a fine job.

You can point out his faults (which on this thread, I find rather inappropriate) all you want. But the fact of the matter is history will always weigh his accoplishments over his missteps.

May your soul rise up to heaven,
Before the devil knows you're dead.

Happy trails, Ronald...

I had the privilege of reading "A Different Drummer" by Michael Deaver and though I lived through the Reagan years, I never knew how much of a legacy and impact he left on America. God bless the Reagans.

I will be 50 next year. Not very old, but old enough to have lived through a non-negligible part of American history. I remember when JFK was elected. I remember when he was assassinated. I remember when the troubles in Viet Nam started to be a major concern to Americans. I remember the race riots in the 60s. I remember Watergate vividly. Not counting Eisenhower (I was alive, but never aware of him), I have followed the presidencies of nine different Presidents.

It is hard for the younger generation to understand how "down on itself" America was after the 60s and the 70s. It was even worse then than it is today, and today it has gotten much worse than it was a few years ago. But the Reagan years were special.

Why? Because Reagan was a President, in every sense of the word. A man, who would stare down anyone. The Iranians were thumbing their noses at America under Carter, but the hostages were liberated a few minutes after Reagan's inauguration. They knew that if they weren't, the marines would be on their way before nightfall. Brezhnev and the Soviet Union still seemed unstoppable then. Still moving ahead everywhere, trampling the liberty of every country they had ever "liberated". Reagan dared to stare down even the Soviets.

I remember one of the men I work with here in France complaining, during the 1980 election, that he felt sorry for America because, if Reagan was elected, America would be at war within a year. Like so many, he didn't understand that it is strength, and the determination to use it if necessary, that makes us safe from war, not trying to always be "the nice guys". The world has not liked America any time I can remember, but under Reagan, they at least learned to respect us.

Before Reagan, I had come to the conclusion that no American President, no matter which side of the political fence he was on, could ever really be popular. He is too visible, and those who love to complain and offer their simplistic solutions would always be willing to second-guess the man in the Oval Office, tearing him down no matter how hard he tried. The country was divided like it had not been in a century.

And then Reagan was elected. And his popularity stayed up there for 8 straight years. I was astounded. When he was re-elected, he carried 49 states. He didn't even make a serious effort to campaign in Minnesota, considering Mondale's home state a "lost cause". And yet he lost it by a very slim margin. If he had made the effort, he could have been the first President in American history to carry all 50 States.

No, his watch was not the "golden age" of America. He made his mistakes, and the world went through plenty of troubles then, too. There are always enough things to criticize, for those who want to criticize. But as one who was there, as one who remembers America before that time, as one who has seen what has become of America since that time, I can say that the Reagan years were very, very special, because Ronald Reagan was very, very special. He gave us hope, made us believe that there might be a worthwhile future after all. America under Reagan's watch was not perfect, but it was better than it had been before, and better than it has been since.

Thank you, Ronald Reagan. You will go down in history as one of the great Presidents, and you deserve it. In the years to come, I and millions of my fellow Americans will be looking for men and women willing and able to follow in your footsteps, and make America great again.

That's what made Reagan feared in some parts of the world. That was good. Reagan made it clear to Libya and everyone else that there was a new sheriff in town and that he was not scared of using the American military. He helped start the recovery from Vietnam by smacking Qadaffi a bit.

Though I may not have agreed with many of his policies, Ronald Reagan was a man worthy of respect. He was humorous and well-spoken, charismatic and firm when he needed to be. His efforts were key to ending the Cold War. His letter to the American people describing his Alzheimer's was dignified and moving, and helped spur research into this horrible disease.

But, the one thing that I can admit to unequivocal admiration for Mr. Reagan is his relationship with his wife. While a lot of jokes were made about Nancy being the "power behind the throne", theirs is a true love story, and my heart goes out to Nancy for the loss of her life partner.

RIP, Mr. Reagan.

pfft!!! what wonderful things are speaking of? selling WMD to saddam? arming the sandinista rebels? overthrowing DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED governments? HELPING BIN LADEN!?!?

I'm sorry, but in my humble opinion, reagen was NOT a good president. while I was too young during the reagan years to remember them, his policies effect me (and every other american) to this day, 14 years later, and often in very negative ways. americas number 1 enemy was support by him, the quagmire we're involved in now in Iraq was indirectly his fault (it was the reagen adminstration that sold saddam the WMDs, which shrubya used as a pretext to the war) tens of thousands of people in central america were "disappeared" by the sandinistas. President Ronald Reagan's administration remains morally responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of East Timorese because it backed Indonesia's brutal occupation of their country, human rights groups asserted today.

I'm sorry, but under close scrutiny, reagan's presidency comes up lacking. many of his policies are what created the people around the globe that want america destroyed (such as bin laden) to me, that makes him a traitor. I cannot understand why people act as if he was a saint or something.

It is my sincere hope that the board Moderators do not chide me for going off-topic and I could handle this with a PM to Belladonna, but I want to apologize for my earlier posts regarding my feelings about President Ronald Reagan.

There is a time and a place for debating the virtues and shortcomings of the Reagan years. This topic is not that place and now is not that time.

To anyone who was offended by my intemperate and inappropriate remarks, I am truly sorry. I am specifically remorseful for any anguish I may have caused for Belladonna.

I'll be leaving here in a few hours with my family and some neighbors to make our journey to Simi Valley where we will pay our respects and say our goodbyes and thank you's to a wonderful President. This has been a difficult time for many across our great nation, but the outpouring of love and support for this fine man has made things easier I'm sure for the Reagan family. The fine people of Los Angeles, this incredibily wonderful and wacky city are amazing people. Rich and poor, Black, blue, red, yellow, green and white and every shade in between. Conservative, liberal, moderate, you name it. This city remains as it was then, and is still tonight, the heart and soul of "Reagan Country". God help me, I do love this place as he did.

Perhaps tomorrow I will have more to say here, perhaps not, I really don't know. Tonight belongs to President Reagan.


Edited to add the following.....

I've been up all night and I'm pretty much running on fumes here, but I did want to share the experience with my friends here. It has been quite a night indeed! LA threw a going away party for President Reagan and invited the rest of America to attend. Based on the number of people I saw there, the rest of America took us up on it. Freeways jammed for miles, bumper to bumper in 4 lanes of traffic. And once you get there, the sheer size of the crowd was absolutely incredible. People lined up in a line that snaked its way back and forth numerous times across 2 mile long parking lot and that wasn't even enough to hold everyone, so they started filling a second, even bigger lot. And they were all there for one reason, to honor the memory of a man they admired and in many cases loved. Everyone had a favorite Reagan story, a tale of how he had touched their lives personally. By early this morning, over 17,000 people had already visited the library and there were at least that many, if not more still waiting for their brief chance, and the lines were growing by the hour.

It was a pretty special evening for us. We met a lot of people from all over, made a lot of friends and most of all swapped a lot of stories. President Reagan who was known for his stories would have loved it I think. It was so appropriate. Entirely appropriate.

It was also quite interesting to observe the change in people between the time they boarded the bus to take them to the library, and when they boarded it for the return trip. On the way there it was almost festive and with good reason. Getting on that bus after waiting for several hours and the waiting times are now over 10 hours causes one to be pretty happy. But then it hits you that he's gone, he's really gone and you know that you're going to miss him. It's a reflective time.

I'm sure that in the comiing months we will hold a number of discussions about President Reagan's legacy and I look forward to participating in those discussions - then. But, not now. I have other things on my mind.

Some here have chosen to take my comments and use them as a way to rant against President Reagan. As nighttimer has said, this topic is not the place to discuss the relative merits and dismerits of the Reagan presidency. This is certainly one instance where if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. If you want to honor President Reagan, this is the place to do it. Perhaps someone can start a separate post to discuss the Reagan years. I hold to my previous comments; I certainly don't agree with most things that Reagan did. Please don't use this particular topic to scorn President Reagan, it just seems a little tacky to me. I'm sorry if I got off topic, I just felt that I had to say something.

Policy differences aside, my thoughts go out to Regan's family in their time of grief and mourning. Everyone has their flaws, but it is always sad when we lose a leader.

Perhaps I should have added a new post about my evening instead of editing my previous one... Oh well, see above.

Aquilla I am very happy for you to be able to take part in a historical moment and commune with others about a favorite American president. I agree with you that President Reagan would have found your experience to be a very fitting tribute to his life.

I used to live in Simi Valley/Thousand Oaks and watched as the library was built. I can only imagine the scene that is going on presently. I hope this spills over into Washington for Friday and we all can be touched a little by the experience of paying tribute to a departed public figure.

I think it will Eeyore. In words of that great 20th Century philosopher, Mohammed Ali, 'It's gonna be something!" You bring up the library, and you are right, it is a sight to behold. As you know between Simi Valley and Moorpark where the staging area for the buses is, there is a long stretch of the 118 freeway (The Ronald Reagan Freeway) that's pretty dark and it runs just north of the hill where the library is. At night, you can see the brilliant lights of the library on top of that hill as you drive along the freeway. It certainly evokes the image of that "shining city on a hill".

ok, I didn't like reagan as a leader. I don't think he was a good president and sometimes I think his moral compass was a little screwy.

that being said, my sympathies DO go out to the reagan family. I know what it is like to lose a family member. it is hard. sorry about my little rant earlier on.

Last night, did anyone catch Jay Leno's opening monologue?

He related a time when he had met the former president at some sort of a
function. They were sitting together, talking about school. And President
Reagan said to him, "I was a only a C student. I often wonder how much
further I could have gone if I'd done better in school." (that's not the exact
quote, but you get the idea)

I guess he had a very good sense of humor.

I heard that lines for visiting Reagan at his Presidential library are expected to be 10 hours long.

That's quite a line.

We waited around 5 hours and were stuck in the traffic jam for another five hours and this was in the middle of the night! The line was longer by far when we left at dawn then it was when we arrived at Silly O'Clock. It was really quite an incredible sight, I've lived a pretty long time and I've never seen anything even remotely close to what's happening out there.

Like I said, when LA throws a party, EVERYONE comes!

Aquilla – very admirable that you would take the time to honor Reagan. And you’re right, it’s quite remarkable “what’s happening out there”. I only wish I had the opportunity to properly show my respect.

Although I disagreed with some of his policies, without question I feel he is one of the top 8 greatest Presidents. He was just what this country needed when he took office.

I think he was more intelligent and in touch with the country more than he’s been given credit. Not only did he represent our country very well while restoring a sense of pride, but I can’t recall a President, or any politician for that matter, whose most vocal opponents still respected and admired him.

While discussing his popularity with his opponents last night during the national service, I believe it was Tim Russert who made the comment “He fired all the air traffic controllers and they end up naming an airport after him”. Kind of says it all.

During the same televised service it was said numerous times, “He could disagree without being disagreeable”, a lesson we could all learn. Throw in the wit and humor, his character is something all politicians should strive to achieve.

And of course there’s his remarkable relationship with his wife. He had it all and continued to give.

God bless you President Reagan, and a heartfelt thanks for righting the ship.

Regardless of one's political opinion, it is undeniable that Mr. Ronald Reagan was the most influential Statesman in America since FDR and prior to that, Lincoln. It must have been an amazing life to live, and my hat is off to him.

May God Bless the Reagans.

Dear President Reagan,

Today our nation says goodbye to you for the final time and all week I’ve been thinking of how I could say my goodbye. You were well known for being one of the most prolific correspondents of any American President; this according to a book dedicated to your life titled, Reagan, A Life In Letters. According to the book, you wrote over 10,000 letters to a wide variety of people from politicians and children to family and friends. So I decided I’d say goodbye to you in a letter.

I was in high school when you took office. I wasn’t politically conscious at that time, nor did I become that way during your terms as our nation’s leader. To be honest, I never really knew that much about you to include what you accomplished or how you failed.

I know you nominated the first woman to the Supreme Court of the United States. I saw her interviewed the other night and she credits you for opening the door to women across the country. She said:



I understand she will be speaking at your funeral today. Ms. O’Conner was asked what you would think about some of her decisions, specifically those that are more moderate or left leaning and she replied, “I don’t know. I wish I did. He was a remarkable president, and he understood the country well. And I like to think that he would have understood that as well.”

I think she has done you proud Mr. Reagan. Thank you for nominating her - the first woman Supreme Court Justice.

Your family has always been a controversial subject. Many people criticize you for being the spokesperson for family values yet having a very dysfunctional family. My family was dysfunctional too, but my parents, who tried to teach us their values, raised me the best they could. They were a shining example of God’s teachings, but their children – well we were headstrong. We rebelled. We did things that were embarrassing to our parents. It didn’t stop them from loving us and it didn’t stop them from leading by example.

One thing that should never be controversial is your incredible love affair with your wife. Oh sure, some may believe you were too dependent on Nancy and maybe you were. But, what is wrong with that? I think as humans, we all long for a soul mate, someone we can turn to for guidance, someone we can lean on when the need arises.

She has been true to you Mr. President. She has been by your side all this time, even when you no longer recognized her. Her love for you was true and deep. No one can ever take that away.

I know many historians credit you for ending the Cold War. That too is controversial, as other historians believe the Cold War ended for other reasons. I have seen footage of your speech, delivered to the people of West Berlin, audible on the East Side of the Berlin wall.



And yesterday, I watched as this man, the man you spoke to over that wall all those years ago, walk into the Rotunda were you lie in state. He approached your casket with somber face, and brushed his hand on the most recognized symbol of freedom in the world, the United States flag. And I wept.

In the end, people will never agree on your accomplishments or your failures. We will disagree on your philosophies and debate your policies and that’s OK. That’s what America is all about.

You inspired many Americans, Mr. President. You gave so many people hope. That’s what they needed back then. Hope. That’s what we need again now. As I watch the ceremonies this week and hear snippets of your speeches, I feel a sense of pride and I long for that feeling - hope.

You said, "Whatever else history may say about me when I'm gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears; to your confidence rather than your doubts. My dream is that you will travel the road ahead with liberty's lamp guiding your steps and opportunity's arm steadying your way."

So, in closing Mr. President, may I use the words of a revered patriot to sum up how I feel about your presidency – “All in all, not bad, not bad at all."

Respectfully...

This might seem strange coming from me, being that I have not been around here very often in the last month or so. However, I hope you take the time to read it anyway.


Today we put Ronald Reagan to rest.

There are those that look back on this mans politics and policies with disdain, and others who cherish the same.

However, there is something more important to consider here. Ronald Reagan was a man of great character, with strong beliefs and a sense of duty that drove him to pursue them. Like so many of his generation he felt it was his obligation to try to right wrongs and help our country succeed.

On all political sides there are men of his generation that sacrificed time with their families, their careers, and even some of their sanity pursuing what they saw as their duty to their communities. These men stepped forward in times of war, in times of social upheaval, and in times of loss. So many of the generation before us were willing to work tirelessly and with honor to help their communities and country succeed.

Now, as more and more of these great men move on to the next life, where are the ones from our generation to follow in their footsteps? Where did the sense of duty and obligation to community and country go? When did we become all about me instead of we?

For this country to face the future and the struggles it is likely to hold, men and women of character must step forward and sacrifice a portion of their lives in service to their fellow citizens if we are to succeed and prosper.

Some of you reading this probably did not agree with much of Ronald Reagan's philosophy and politics. However, I doubt there are many among you who cannot respect the man for his conviction and the honorable way he lived.

Men like Ronald Reagan should be an example to us all, be we liberal, conservative or somewhere in between. If we as a country are to grow and prosper, everyday men and women among us must step forward and take the reigns from the generation before us.

If you are one of those who says, "what can I do, I am just one person?", or, "why bother?, my vote doesn't matter.", the you are unfortunately a member of the majority of our generation, and you are weak, and perhaps selfish. We as a country cannot succeed without our citizens working for that success. <strong>Your views can not be considered if they re not heard</strong>. Your dreams for America can not be fulfilled if you don't bother to express them and fight for them.

Ronald Reagan was a great man, a man willing to sacrifice a great portion of his regular life so that he could fight for what he believed in and try to fix what he felt was broken.

Are you willing to step forward and take the time and the risk to do the same?

You can start small. All politics are local. Simply by starting to pay attention to what your local town government is doing you can help the country as a whole and improve the life of yourself, your family and your neighbors. When you town tries to do something that is wrong in your eyes, SPEAK UP, let others know, go to town meetings and call them on these things, and VOTE, vote out those you disagree with and feel are leading your town down the wrong path and vote in those who see things your way. If there is no one who sees it the way you do then you have two choices: Vote for the lesser of two evils of RUN FOR THE OFFICE YOURSELF.

The Generation that went before us is called the Greatest Generation not just because of World War II, but because they were willing to do the work, make the sacrifices and fight to be heard in order to make America the best it could possibly be.

It is time for our generation to put down the game controllers, and pick up the newspapers. It is time for us to turn off reality TV and turn on CSPAN (real reality TV). It is time for us to get informed, and be heard. It is time for us to step forward and lead this country with character, honor and love as those that have gone before us have done.

Step up, Listen, Learn and Act. In the end I may not agree with your philosophy or politics, but if you make the sacrifices and make the effort and do it all honorably I will always respect you.

It is our time to act.

I am sitting here feeling the effects of Reagan's last action.

Even in his death, he has found a way to bring americans together. For good and bad. He has, yet again, put America on the world stage today in a way that should garner respect and sympathy. I am amazed with the way that this has struck me, and it has reminded me who America is, and what we truly stand for.

God bless you again President Reagan. You were right on que. (Insert tearful, saluting smiley here)

Eric

Farewell Dutch

The ceremony tonight was very touching.

I heard some of the speeches from earlier (Bush, Sr. and George W Bush) and they were eloquent, but nothing compared to the personal reflections of Ronald Reagan's children.

To quote his son, Ron Reagan : "He is home now. He is free."

The presentation of the flag to Nancy was very touching and I welled up as Nancy said her final goodbyes to the Gipper.

Goodbye, Mr. Reagan, you will be missed.

This has been a very difficult yet inspiring week for the Reagan family, the California family and the American family. As Dickens wrote, "These are the best of times and the worst of times", and never has that been more true than this week. It was our chance to celebrate the wonderful life of Ronald Reagan, a time to remember for many of us his time and a chance for others to learn about him. It was also a time to say a final goodbye to a dear friend. I was stunned this morning while watching the recording I made of yesterday's service at the Reagan Library. Just as President Reagan's political "soulmate", Lady Thatcher, gave her final bow and said goodbye to him, the sun disappeared over the horizon in California. Now I know the Reagan team is about as good as it gets when it comes to symbolism, but that one took divine intervention.

As Amlord pointed out, he is home now, he is really home and that's a good thing. As I have shared with another poster here, we missed him in California even when his casket was returned for tribute to Washingon DC. There were signs along the motorcade route saying "Hurry home, Mr President. We miss you." I must admit I felt a twinge of jealousy myself about that and understood why President Reagan's daughter, Patti Davis, wrote about her jealousy of having to share her father with his "favorite child" - America. She also wrote how she and her family have been comforted in knowing that tens of millions of Americans share in their sorrow at his passing. Once again, he has brought us together.

So, life goes on. It is another beautiful day in Southern California, the skies are clear and the sun is shining bright. The Nancy Reagan rose plant in my garden is in full bloom and it is beautiful. And, as President Reagan told us, our best days are ahead. As President Bush told us though, there are also some pretty darn good ones that have passed as well.