RIP Gipper.
Posted on 02/06/2005 3:51:32 PM PST by SmithL
Simi Valley -- Friends and former colleagues celebrated the 94th birthday of the late President Reagan Sunday with a wreath-laying at his grave site.
President Bush sent a wreath that was placed at Reagan's grave site at his presidential library by Marines from Camp Pendleton. The Marines then honored the nation's 40th president with a 21-gun salute.
"We're celebrating the 94th anniversary of the birth of one of America's truly great presidents whose legacy will live on and on. God bless his memory," said former Gov. Pete Wilson, who spoke at the ceremony.
Reagan died last June at his Bel-Air home after a decade-long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. Aides said former first lady Nancy Reagan was too emotional to attend Sunday's event, which included birthday cake served in the hilltop library's lobby.
"It's a hard day for me because my husband always loved his birthday," Nancy Reagan said in a statement relayed by chief-of-staff Joanne Drake. The former first lady planned to spend the day at her Bel-Air home and visit friends, Drake said.
Farther up the coast in Santa Barbara County, the Young America's Foundation planned a birthday celebration for Monday at Reagan's Racho del Cielo, the president's former retreat which the conservative nonprofit purchased after his presidency.
"We'll toast him and drink some wine," retired Secret Service agent John Barletta said, adding that eight months after Reagan's death wasn't too soon for a celebration of his life.
"He understood death very well _ as God's will," Barletta said. "He was never a griever.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Thank you.
God bless and keep The Great Ronald Reagan.
Jimmy Carter, 23% interest rates, gasahol. "Malaise," and Cubans in Yemen and Angola and Latin America. The Soviets in Afganistan.
How direly we needed Ronald Reagan. The attempts against him and the Pope- another giant of that age.
So much young folks don't even know about- but I? I remember.
How's Nancy doing? I came over the years to really respect her and regard her with much kindness. She deserves our kindness and regards, IMHO.
How've you been? I haven't seen your tag for a while. But I might have been just missing it.
Doing Fine- and you? I've been lurking and linking, as usual, and don't comment too much- unless I just can't contain myself.
I was just at his library this past week. Very nice, worth visiting. Can't wait till Airforce 1 is parked there...
I was just at his library this past week. Very nice, worth visiting. Can't wait till Airforce 1 is parked there...
See you around, and good health to you.
My family was dirt poor in 1980, living in a mobile home and driving a 1972 VW Beetle; by 1984, we had bought a new car off the showroom floor and by 1986, had moved into a beautiful house. So much for "voodoo economics" only helping the rich.
I shall always be grateful for all that he was, and I shall eternally miss him.
Happy Birthday, Mr. President.
ditto.
his ideas saved this country from the stupidity of jimmy carter and the you-owe-me democrats.
RIP Gipper.
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