Posted on 06/10/2004 8:54:43 AM PDT by RobFromGa
sure
Your (and joanie-f's) writing has me a bit choked up.
I went down to the street to see the procession in front of the US Courthouse. The crowd was approximately 10-15 people deep as far as I could see, with a wide cross-section of America waiting with me on that curb. Many parents held children on their shoulders, and some came in shorts and others in business suits, and still others in military uniform. Cadets from the military academies paraded by, the muffled drums beating a somber accompaniment. Then, faintly at first, I could hear the clip-clopping of horses' hooves. Straining above the crowd, I could make out the caisson in the distance, a few blocks away. As it drew near, it was drowned out by the sound of jets approaching. As the riderless horse was led by, Reagan's own brown cavalry boots turned backwards in the stirrups, the 21-ship flyover began... ending with the missing man formation, the single jet climbing into the sky. Perhaps it sounds sacrilegious to say so, but it really was a thrilling moment. And a fitting tribute.
I got in line at about 7pm, and stood in the gated rows that each spanned the width of the reflecting pool. It was blazing hot and humid at first, with some breezes aided by giant green fans helping to cool the air. Red Cross workers were distributing water bottles to the crowd, but this was still not enough for some: ambulances took away a few people who collapsed--whether from heat prostration or exhaustion or dehydration, I don't know. The young man in front of me in a beige suit kept a running monologue to his friends nearly the entire time. One man who was perhaps a dozen people in front of us held a California vanity license plate with "GIPPER" written upon it. He and his 11-year-old daughter were interviewed by the local NBC affiliate, and as I listened to the exchange, I saw the daughter hold up a framed picture of herself with Nancy Reagan. For her birthday, her parents had arranged for her to meet the former first lady at the Reagan Library. Many Eastern European accents could be discerned, and there were several Jewish kippahs, a man chomping upon macadamia nuts who was wearing a clerical collar, a Sikh, African-American, Asian, babies with red, white and blue bows on their heads and elderly women in wheelchairs. One man with an unidentifiable accent was decked out in flag-image clothing, carrying a large American flag on a flagpole. Many servicemen and women were visible throughout the crowd, as well: one policeman in blue dress uniform with a black-banded badge stood next to a group of midshipmen, a pair of marines accompanied by a little boy with a buzzcut, a few army grunts in fatigues, a Navy captain, and a Marine officer in full dress uniform (those white gloves must have been awfully hot).
Five hours and several security checks later, and I arrived at the Capitol itself. Through a small portable cabin, where there were 12 metal detectors set up; cameras had to be turned in, cellphones turned off, and all liquids and lotions disposed of (it would have been nice to alert the crowd earlier about the latter point--some people ended up leaving the line after waiting five hours because they couldn't throw out their medication; one man left after being told that he couldn't bring in his coin purse.). Walking across the stone promenade in the moonlight, with the nighttime view over the reflecting pool, was awe-inspiring. By this time, everyone is tired, dusty and sweaty, but with the end so near, a sort of preparatory mind set seemed to come over those around us: taking in the moment and adopting a properly reverent attitude.
We entered the door, one by one, after a man (Capitol Policeman?) in a formal red uniform with white gloves greeted us, thanked each of us for waiting and wished us a pleasant evening. As I walked towards the staircase, a man in a grey suit with some sort of lapel pin shook each person's hand, asked several people where they were from, and thanked everyone for coming to pay their respects to President Reagan. To the left of the staircase was a large sign which read "Quiet while in the Capitol" (or something similar). I climbed up the stairs to the Rotunda and entered at just before midnight under the twin gaze of Lincoln to our left and Thomas Jefferson to our right. The flag-covered casket was situated upon the pine catafalque made for Lincoln's funeral, which was swagged in black. A few, perhaps three, floral tribute wreaths surrounded the casket and gave off a strong perfume as I wound our way past, guided by the velvet rope-and-stanchion path. Unfortunately, I missed the changing of the guard by about 1 minute, but obviously one could not linger under the dome. One little Hispanic girl in front of me in her mother's arms turned around towards the funeral bier as she was leaving and waved goodbye.
As the crowd exited, we were handed cream-colored cards, probably 4 x 6, with a gold eagle at the top, and black script below. Tribute to Ronald Reagan from a grateful nation... with some text about the dates and lying in state.
Wouldn't have missed the experience for the world.
A couple of things that struck me as I was waiting in the long line to get into the rotunda. (1) there were a lot of foreign citizens and imigrants in line. Several Royal Air Force officers were staning in line near me, and the family in front of me were a Mexican-American couple with 6 children (all pre-teen) who drove all the way from San Antonio. (2) Curiously, I saw almost no one smoking in line. I'm not sure what, if anything, to read into this. Are Reaganites predominately non-smokers, or were people just being respectful of others. I suspect the former, but don't know -- just a curious observation.
Earlier, I watched the funeral procession from the curb in front of the Labor Dept Building. When the caisson went by and the "missing man" formation flew overhead, everyone in my vicinity was crying or chocking back tears.
Recommendation for anyone driving to the capitol today or tonight -- try parking at Union Station parking garage. It's open 24 hours and is only 4 blocks from the capitol. After standing in line for five hours you won't mind stretching you legs for a four-block stroll back to your car.
I had a walkman portable radio with me and was afraid I would have to throw it away, like the gentleman in RobFromGa's report, but they let me check it at the camera check tent. They allowed us to check any electronic devices at a tent set up at the second checkpoint. They put the gear in a bag and gave us a claim check and allowed us to claim our items at another tent set up on the exit side of the line. (The checked items were shuttled over to the exit tent so they would be waiting for us when we left the Rotunda. Pretty efficient.)
Bravo, sir! Bump.
Thanks much for the link!
All -- Please see post #42 for the link!
I had planned to drive my Mom and son down to California for the processional to the burial...but my Mom was ill this morning and so I am here with her and we will have to settle for being there in spirit...though I so wanted to go.
So, your and Joanie's reports mean all the more to me.
I read JeffHead’s words that I had carried with me for him.
I do not know what to say, or how to thank you for this. Under the circumstances, when I read it, and my wife and mother read it with me, it brought tears to my eyes as if though I had been able to be there.
God bless you Rob...God bless and rest Ronald Reagan, God keep and comfort Nancy...and may God grant that we shall not forget, but that we shall forge forward in defense of liberty and this nation that President Reagan loved so much.
Rob --
Thanks for reporting that first-hand experience.
God Bless!
Wonderful...
Thank you so much for posting this. Tears....
What a wonderful account. Thank you so much for sharing it.
It was so respectful of you to wear a tie and jacket to the viewing. That really touched me.
I'm so happy for you that you had this magnificent experience! Thanks for sharing.
Excellent. Will bump for viewing later.
Thanks for the eyewitness report. I would have done anything to be there, but circumstances (and, frankly, our checkbook) prevented it. Thanks for representing all Freepers there, and for being our eyes and ears.
Sorry we couldn't stay longer. I didn't get home till 11:15. Long day but absolutely no regrets.
God Bless President Reagan!
Many thanks.
Thanks for the report Rob. Sounds like something you'll always remember.
Prairie
I had planned to drive my Mom and son down to California for the processional to the burial...but my Mom was ill this morning and so I am here with her and we will have to settle for being there in spirit...though I so wanted to go.
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bump !
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