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They did a good job. The only regret I have is that we could not hear what the Naval Captain commander of the Reagan aircraft carrier said to Nancy as he presented her with the flag.

It's a very moving statement about the Congress and the President's appreciation for the service of her husband. You could see Nancy's face and eyes' light up as he presented her with the flag. Hopefully the text will be published somewhere.

Major General Galen B. Jackman was commissioned from the University of Nebraska ROTC Program in 1973. His first duty assignment was with the 1st battalion (ABN) 508th Infantry, 82d Airborne Division, where he served as a rifle platoon leader, anti-tank platoon leader, company executive officer, and battalion adjutant. He next served with the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, as a battalion S4, rifle company commander, and battalion S3. Following assignment as a Procurement Officer with the United States Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, he served as Procurement Officer, Squadron Executive Officer, and Squadron Commander in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta.

Major General Jackman has commanded the 1st battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division; 2d Brigade, 7th Infantry Division; and the Ranger Training Brigade, Fort Benning, Georgia. He has also served as the Director of Combined Arms and Tactics at the United States Army Infantry School, as well as the Deputy J3 for Training and Readiness, United States Pacific Command, Hawaii, Chief of Staff and Assistant Division Commander for Support, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry). Major General Jackman most recently served as Director of Operations, United States Southern Command.

Major General Jackman is a graduate of the Infantry Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College, and Industrial Arts College of the Armed Forces. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Nebraska and a Master of Science in Acquisition and Contract Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. He has earned the Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Expert Infantryman Badge. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and Army Achievement Medal.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Galen B. Jackman, commanding general of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, escorts Former First Lady Nancy Reagan down Constitution Avenue during the funeral procession for former President Ronald Reagan, June 9, 2004, in Washington, D.C. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Galen B. Jackman, commanding general of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, escorts Former First Lady Nancy Reagan from an Air Force VC-25 upon its arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., June 9, 2004. Mrs. Reagan was accompanying the remains of her husband, former President Ronald W. Reagan, for a state funeral in the nation's capital. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Michael Best

I expect that Nancy's letter of thanks to Gen. Jackman (..and I have zero doubt that she will write one...) will be a true classic. In fact, I predict that Mrs. Reagan will spend the next several weeks thanking dozens -- if not hundreds -- of folks who made the honoring of her husband so very special!

Also, did anyone notice her personal touch at Andrews when she held Jackman's arm with her left hand, and reached up with her right hand to gratefully hold the hand of the young officer who was holding the umbrella over her?

And, when Nancy patted the President's coffin, I am sure that she had used that exact same loving and soothing caress -- literally thousands of times -- to comfort her "Ronnie" as the agony that is Alzheimers slowly drained away his marvelous personality. (I know so -- for I saw my own mother do the same as that horrible affliction gradually switched off my father's intellect -- like watching the lights in a great city winking out -- one by one...)

Nancy Reagan is pure, unadulterated, and beautiful class, IMO!

What a marvelous contrast to the "dozing demons..."!!!