Posted on 06/09/2004 11:18:26 AM PDT by Wolfstar
For those who were unable to watch the coverage from Point Mugu Naval Air Station this morning as President Reagan and his family left California for Washington, former First Lady Nancy Reagan did something incredibly gracious and moving. She is, after all, an 82-year-old going through an extraordinarily difficult time. Everyone would have understood if she took one of the easier methods of boarding the plane.
Yet she chose to walk up that long flight of stairs. Then, when she got to the top, she turned and waved to the crowd. The crowd spontaneously broke out in very warm applause. (That's a major general escorting Mrs. Reagan. Look at the awe on his face.)
The purpose of this thread is to give all FReepers — those of us who are Ronald Reagan's foot soldiers for life — our warmest expressions of love, support and gratitude. I am going to the RWR library on Sunday and will personally hand-deliver a printout of this thread to them. All tributes received by the library are being saved for later presentation to Mrs. Reagan.
Now, as you go through this last bit of the journey with your husband, please know that those of us who were his political foot soldiers walk every step of the way with you in deep sorrw and profound gratitude. But also with enormous pride at what we accomplished together by having the courage and foresight to follow President Ronald Wilson Reagan.
M2C and Onyx, pinging as promised. Please help to spread the word so that those who wish to add a tribute to this thread will have to opportunity to do so. Thanks.
Regards, Ivan
Thanks, Ivan. Please consider adding some words of your own for Mrs. Reagan. I specifically pinged you mindful of the great friendship and partnership between President Reagan and your former Prime Minister Thatcher. I think it would be wonderful to have some comments from an "average" British citizen on this thread.
President Reagan's legacy was a restored and rejuvenated America, after years of malaise. "Better loved ye cannot be." He is receiving his reward in Heaven, where a place has been reserved for him.
As everyone has undoubtedly heard before... For every great man there stands a great woman next to him.
We all know why Mr. Reagan was able to achieve greatness.
You.
God Bless you and your family, Mrs. Reagan.
This man is a personal hero. May his convictions playout in future administrations. May his charm and optimism be made a part of each of us. May his courage be shown in all our actions. May his legacy live forever.
Words are inadequate to express my feelings. I want to offer Mrs. Reagan and the family my warmest best wishes. I also want to say that Roanld Reagan made me even prouder to be an American. I thank God that Mr. Reagan was there to serve our nation (and the world) at a time when he was so badly needed. He will be truly missed, but I rejoice that he rests in the arms of the Father.
Myself, my son and my Mom are driving down from Idaho to be there on Firday, June 11th in the hopes we can see them bring your husband home. We shall stay until Sunday in the hopes that his grave site is open so we can pay our respects.
God bless you, mam, for being the love and support your husband needed through the long years of his service so late in your lives. God bless you for that service...we have all benefited and thank God for you. God bless Ronald Reagan...the best American man and blood of our age...the best President in my lifetime and in the 20th century by far...and one of the two best presidents of all time.
Please accept our humble condolences and our gratitude.
God bless you, mam...and as your husband would say...God bless America.
Jeff Head
Idaho, USA
Joe and Doug, please consider adding a few comments for Mrs. Reagan here. As Californian, I know what all this means to you.
I cannot adequately express my admiration and love for what your husband did for this country. He made us proud to be Americans, and although his presidency is now past, the love of America he gave us all endures.
I also want to thank you for allowing us to share this farewell to your husband. Your care for him through his last years, your protection of his privacy, and your willingness to bear this burden is a profound inspiration. Please know that you and your family will always remain in my prayers.
It's very rare to witness greatness. Usually greatness is a quality confined to the musty corridors of history. We read about it, watch documentaries, our witnessing of it is usually secondhand. However, we lived in an era in which greatness was personified in two individuals, Mrs. Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. I can still cast my mind back to the 1980's, and though I was quite young, I can remember the sense of the Western World being in a safe pair of hands. I can remember how my political consciousness was formed around the ideals they espoused: liberty, limited government, standing firm for civilisation. I can remember being inspired by them...wanting to emulate the manly virtues that President Reagan had in abundance, and the strength and integrity both the President and the Prime Minister possessed.
The 80's were a fair time, and I live every day in the afterglow of that era, remembering that the principles that President Reagan and Mrs. Thatcher held then, are still true today.
Now a word about Mrs. Reagan. Behind every great man, it is said, is a great woman. This has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt in the eyes of the world. I sincerely doubt that Reagan could have found the strength to change the world and liberate millions, if he did not have the love of his wife and her gentle virtues to turn to.
Regards, Ivan
Thank you, Miss Marple.
Thank you for the grace you shared with the Nation.
Thank you for sharing your beloved husband with us all.
Thank you, Ivan. You are anything but "mad."
You will be in my prayers as you go through this difficult time. May God richly bless you.
She is an amazing woman. To have the emotional strength and desire to make a gesture like that at a time like this for her just shows how blessed we were to have her as a first lady.
It was an honor to have you as my first lady and your husband as the first president I could vote for.
Ronald's role as President of the United States was a calling, and he did it well. You are both an inspiration and you both make me want to be a better person.
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