LIVE THREAD: Reagan State Funeral Ceremony: Arrival at the Capitol

www.freerepublic.com | June 9, 2004

[Howlin]

Arrival at Andrews Air Force Base scheduled for 5 P.M. EDT.

Beginning of procession: 16th and Constitution at 6:00 P.M.

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The procession begins at 16 th Street and Constitution Avenue with the ceremonial transfer of remains of former President Ronald Reagan from a hearse to a horse-drawn caisson for the processional to the Capitol. The casket transfer will take place at 6 p.m. and caisson continues east with formal military escort.

The public will be able to pay final respects while the remains lie in state in the Capitol rotunda from 7:00 p.m. through Friday, June 11, 2004 at 9:30 a.m.

[nutmeg]

I heard a report today on the radio that when the funeral procession passed by an onion (?) farm (in CA, between Simi Valley and Pt. Magu), the workers in the field stopped their work, stood solemnly along the side of the road, took off their hats and put them over their hearts as a silent tribute to President Reagan...

[Howlin]

And they will make sure it's less.

I heard somebody today talking about how few blacks there were.

Somebody remind me WHO is politicizing this?

[StriperSniper]

That's it, but I don't don't know the term either.

[YaYa123]

Yes, yes...I'm convinced this is more meaningful because we are sharing it with like-minded souls, and I'm glad you are here.

I"m so very impressed with the size of the crowds...it's truly amazing, isnt' it? And oh what a comfort for Nancy.

[firewalk]

.

[TomGuy]

(TomGuy that worked, thanks!!)

Invoice is in the mail.

lol.

[And I don't work cheap.]

[Terriergal]

Just wait - we're going to hear complaints about the 'huge cost' of all this.

[maryz]

Catafalque?

[Rainmist]

It would be neat if people threw flowers at the casket as it passed like they did Diana - but I suppose that wouldn't be such a good idea these days ....

[cyncooper]

The official name of "My Country Tis Of Thee" is "America."

You are correct. But I call it "My Country Tis of Thee", too.

Lester Holt says you can hear a pin drop on Constitution Avenue and that in the last hour the crowd has really swelled.

[prairiebreeze]

Factoid ---Gunfire over the grave:

Three volleys are fired over the grave at burial, a custom carried over from the battlefield, when warriors periodically paused from fighting to tend to the dead. The volleys signaled that the burial party was ready to resume battle.

The custom of threes is believed to have been adapted from ancient Rome, when mourners cast dirt on the coffin three times, thrice called the name of the dead and thrice declared "vale," meaning farewell, as they left the tomb.

[Howlin]

Random acts of kindness.

[Mo1]

the workers in the field stopped their work, stood solemnly along the side of the road, took off their hats and put them over their hearts as a silent tribute to President Reagan...

OH WOW!!

[onyx]

Thanks prairie.
I'm fixing to leave computer
now to watch on big screen.

[sinkspur]

Catafalque.

[PhiKapMom]

Lester Holt just said the crowds are huge and have swelled in the last hour. Back to Chris and mute back on!

[NavySEAL F-16]

I believe it's the "catafalque" (sp). the structure that the casket rests on in the Rotunda. I heard that it was hastily constructed for Lincoln. The commentator made it sound that it is used for all State Funerals held in the Rotunda. I'd have to check on that.

[don-o]

I heard on TV it symbolizes that the owner won't be wearing them again.

I heard that he is looking back at his troops. I like that.

[Don Munn]

How would Sheifer know the crowd size, he was a 25 year old reporter for the Fort Worth paper in 1963.

He covered the Kennedy story from the Dallas Police Station and was not in Washington DC. in 1963!