REAGAN FUNERAL PROCESSION PHOTOS (warning large files)

June 14, 2004 | BillF

[BillF]

 

CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO OPEN A NEW WINDOW WITH THE FULL SIZE PHOTO. Right click and select save if you want to save a photo.

I went to the procession for President Ronald Reagan on Wednesday, June 10.  My comments and photos follow below.  I've also interspersed photos taken by conservaDave and those are noted by his name in brackets as well as his name in the photo.

Kristinn, co-leader of the DC Chapter had encouraged FReepers to gather on the Southwest corner of the intersection of Constitution and 15th.

Honor roll of FReepers that I confirmed were in attendance (others may have been there and just never met up with the rest of us): Angelwood, Dagnabbit, BufordP, conservaDave, plsjr; Lulu; DoctorMichael; nina0113; Samurai_Jack,  Sauropod, TBP, Jimmy Valentine's brother (who brought a friend from work), Ned13, Kristinn,  tgslTakoma, daughterofTGSL, sinanja, Trueblackman, lurker who became Landry Fan, Fred Mertz, Common Tator, DollyCali, Darth Sidious, and BillF.

BufordP had his wonderful sign: about 3 feet squared photo of Reagan with American flag behind him and the caption: NOW THERE WAS A PRESIDENT! Mounted on a long board to allow it to be held above the crowd, the sign was a center of attention and led to BufordP being interviewed and/or photographed (or at least his sign photographed) by NPR, Washington Post, BBC online, AP, MSNBC, and others.

After gathering in the shade, we moved into the broiling sun and relocated to the asphalt of the closed 15th street.  That gave us a much better view of the procession that was to come.

The sadness that many of us felt over Ronald Reagan's death was somewhat tempered by the fond recollection of the joy that he brought to us and America and the freedom that he brought to the world.  At times, it was more like an Irish wake celebrating the full and complete life of a wonderful person interspersed with the sadness over his death.

A well-dressed Mexican woman saw my button with Reagan's photo and said to me, "That was greatest American President.  He saved my country Mexico from civil war.  He saved Central America from Communism.  God bless Ronald Reagan."  Having heard a Russian woman a few days earlier singing similar praise for President Reagan and crediting him for freedom in Russia,  it was clear that the love for President Reagan extended across borders.

A few FReepers first located under shade trees.  Visible are Angelwood sitting down with American Flag,
Lulu to left and BillF to right with blue stripe shirt and FR hat. BufordP has his back to camera,
but his wonderful sign is visible right behind BillF [conservaDave photo]

Some of the fine officers of DC Metropolitan Police asked for their photos taken with BufordP's sign.  We were happy to oblige.  I took some photos on my camera and one on their camera.

This officer holds one of the buttons that Angelwood made (see below) and proudly wears a commemoration tie pin for his service during President Reagan's second inaugural.

 

BufordP is interviewed by woman in red blouse.  I think that she worked for National People's Radio (aka NPR). Angelwood, Lulu, and plsjr are partially visible in back.

 

 

Photo of BufordP with the officers and partially showing BillF at far left setting up for above photo.[conservaDave]

Button made by Angelwood and held by officer in above photo.[conservaDave, edited by me] THIS PHOTO NOT HYPERLINKED

 

Jimmy Valentine's brother, partially obscured by flag, Sauropod, and Ned13.

Angelwood, facing away from camera, gives button to woman, while BufordP holds his Reagan sign. [conservaDave]

 

conservaDave, patriot and great photographer
[his own photo, either took it himself with timer, or had another take it for him]

The military bands marched right past us turning the corner from 15th Street onto Constitution Avenue and then waited in place until the procession started.

 

	Band marching past with BufordP's sign in foreground [conservaDave]	[conservaDave]

After a couple police cars, numerous limousines past by us, followed by the horse-drawn caisson with the flag-draped casket on top.  The riderless horse was behind the caisson.

[conservaDave]
[conservaDave]	[conservaDave]	c [conservaDave]

After the caisson, more limousines went by including Mrs. Reagan who waved as we waved at her.

Mrs. Reagan in back of limo waves back at crowd.

w Crowd waves at Mrs. Reagan.

After the procession had passed us, BufordP, conservaDave, me, and other FReepers walked quickly the 15 blocks towards the Capitol in hopes of seeing something there.  We got separated from each other.  BufordP and I did not end up with a good view, but some of the below photos show that conservaDave had a good location for some photos.  The planes performed their missing man formation and other planes flew overhead during this walk to the Capitol.

Eventually, BufordP, Jimmy Valentine's brother, Fred Mertz, a special FRiend, Kristinn, and I went to a restaurant.  We were later joined by Rob from Georgia, who had been through the Rotunda.

 

Planes overflight.

Misssing man formation.

BufordP with sign and Capitol in background.

 

[conservaDave]

[conservaDave]

 

t

This was just an example of people photographing BufordP's sign.  At
least 40 or 50 people held the sign while Buford took their photo
with them holding the sign.

 

 

BufordP interviewed by MSNBC.

 

 

[conservaDave]

[conservaDave]

[conservaDave]

God bless Ronald Reagan and the United States of America!

[BillF]

It was great to meet with many fine FReepers!

[pettifogger]

Thanks for the pictures -- and you too, conservaDave.

To f zero: check these out.

[BillF]

DC Chapter ping!

[Captiva]

Awesome!

(Thanks for the large file warning, too!)

[eastsider]

How did conservaDave get those shots of the action at the foot of the Capitol steps?

[Captiva]

Awesome!

(Thanks for the large file warning, too!)

[b4its2late]

Great post. Thanks.

[BillF]

eastsider said: How did conservaDave get those shots of the action at the foot of the Capitol steps?

I'll guess that he used a telephoto lens, but he should be able to answer directly.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Wow. WONDERFUL pictures...thanks so much!

[BillF]

Pinging some who attended.

[eastsider]

I'm more interested in knowing where he was standing for those shots and how he got there so quickly from 15th and Constitution. (I was standing at 7th and Constitution, so I know what the crowds were like.)

[Rightly Biased]

Thanks BillF what a great report

[BillF]

Pinging some who attended.

And correcting the list of attendees. "Sinanja" should be "sinanju."

[cgk]

Wow, thank you!! That picture of "another flyover for President Reagan" is just.. magical.

[InsensitiveConservative]

Fabulous pictures! Why didn't I see the Reagan sign on any news coverage? :(

[basil]

Great photos---almost felt like I was there!

DCChapter Rocks!

[BillF]

Welcome! (Even if the Landry is the late Tom Landry and you're a Dallas Cowboys fan. :)

It was great seeing you at the procession and at Rumsfeld's the previous Saturday.

Would you like to be added to the DC Chapter ping list so that you are pinged to DC Chapter news and announcements?

[BillF]

That picture of "another flyover for President Reagan" is just.. magical.

Agreed. ConservaDave took a lot of great photos. When Dave emailed his photos to me, I thought that he was a professional photographer.

[GVnana]

You're bringing tears to my eyes all over again.

[stillnoprotestsagainstmuslims]

Man, I gotta admit when I looked at those pics blown up I was crying. I don`t know, people showing such pride and honor for this country is just something that I rarely see, and the constant US bashing really brings my head down and I know I`m not the only one. Just by the amount of people who came out, as well to pay their respects to President Reagan, are saying that. This country is not a heap of sh*t and sometimes I wish Bush would get a little Reagan in him and stick it right up the mutts who think it is, like that time Reagan told that heckler to "SHUT UP!" That was the best! This freggin` media CBS, NY Times, and the rest of these mutts should be shut down, just boycotted out of existence. It truly damages this country more than they realize, which on the other hand may be just what they want. Just absolute utter pricks.