Posted on 06/05/2004 6:33:41 PM PDT by Wolfstar
Is there any way this thread can be kept in breaking news through the funeral? It's the least we can do by way of tribute. I would patiently bump it to the top constantly, but my internet connection at home is messed up due to the transition of Pacific Bell accounts to SBC. Thanks.
Thank you for sharing a wonderful man and a great leader with our nation. When history is written, the only question will be whether he was the greatest president of the 20th century or the greatest president of a longer period than just one century.
I was a young college student in North Dakota when Ronald Reagan ran for president in 1976, the first one in which I was eligible to vote. He came to the ends of the earth to campaign for our tiny handful of 18 delegates. I remember how he charmed me and a handful of friends to the extent that we, disgusted with the political legacies of Watergate like most college students at that time, went to our county convention to work in his behalf. I was honored to be given the opportunity to speak in his behalf and boldly declare to the delegates there that "While I couldn't guarantee Reagan would win, I could guarantee them the Ford would lose. For while it may not be fair to wrap Ford in the Nixon legacy, in the mind of the public he was. " I remember the overwhelming majority of those who attended the convention being in favor of Ronald Reagan, but the party leadership was not. Eventually, the state's delegation was split 9-9 and the state party chairman, who was from our county, told us supporters to be happy with this compromise because under the rules then in effect, the party leadership could allocate the delegates any way they wished. I remember that, in disgust, my friends and I went to use our efforts on behalf of other candidates in other political parties after Ronald Reagan was denied the momentum which he rightfully earned in North Dakota in June of 1976.
While I do not know if we would have changed history, I do know that four years later Ronald Reagan did. I remember rejoicing as the returns came in that night in November of 1980. I remember standing outside our classrooms the following January as he was sworn into office while a split screen showed our hostages in Iran being released. And I remember how all of us prayed ferevently for a speedy recovery when he was shot just two months later.
Please know how many lives Ronald Reagan touched and affected for the better and perhaps even consider a selfish request: Send his earthly tabernacle home from Washington by train. Even if it is in the middle of the night, my family and I will travel to the nearest station on that line to honor the greatest president in my lifetime as it passes by. Please let Ronald Reagan bring America together once again in this way.
As far as I know, Abraham Lincoln was the last president to take a funeral train cross country. You would have to go back at least that far to find a president as great as Ronald Reagan. I hope Nancy, or someone in the family, will seriously consider my selfish request.
At the very least, I want to see a Ronald Reagan stamp issued by July 4 and a Ronald Reagan dime issued by September 1.
Is there a chance of getting the route from Santa Monica to the Library on Monday?
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have the entire way lined with American Flags, held by people who loved him?
I wish it was possible for them to move his body to DC by train, so millions and millions of Americans could line the route to pay their respects.
Excellent remarks, Vigilanteman.
Keep the link to the Library's memorial site handy, because they will be releasing information about the funeral there.
I'd sure come out for that.
Me too.
Thank you for posting that tribute.
3 great ideas, the stamp, dime and the train across the Country.
Thank you. I signed the Condolence Book.
You're welcome, BG. I had hoped the admin. moderator would allow this thread to stay in Breaking News just so it would be more available to FReepers that come and go to this site over the next few days. But it's not there. Sigh.
For every one of you CA FReepers who would stand with a flag, there would be 1000 of us helping you hold it in spirit. I only wish I could be there....
Signed and bumped.
Our Dubya will. One common (and correct) theme of many commentators today is the fact that, politically speaking, GWB is far more the heir to Ronald Reagan than he is to his own father.
That's OK. Word will get out. I'll go link this thread to the Dose, OK?
Until www.reaganvigil.com goes live late tonight or early tomorrow, here is a link to the website to organize candlelight vigils in hometowns across America and internationally.
http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/reagan/
We put it together in a hurry, so please forgive its lack of slick appeal, but it should get the job done.
Send it out to everyone you know, every list you've got so that folks can get together and start organizing vigils!
And if you are in Washington DC Sunday night, come by Lafayette Park across the street from the White House at 6 PM.
Let's get this together for the Gipper!
KRD
Please consider pinging your lists to this thread. I put it up as a service to all FReepers who may have questions about funeral arrangements, or who may want to leave personal condolences, etc.
Most definitely OK. This thread is intended as a service to all FReepers who may not know where else to get info.
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