Thousands pay respects to Reagan

By Jeremiah Marquez
The Associated Press

DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES Mourners pay their final respects to former President Reagan as they file past his casket yesterday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Vally, California.

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More than 105,000 mourners had passed by the coffin after viewing began at noon Monday, library officials said. The nation's 40th president died Saturday at age 93.

Nancy Reagan, resting and preparing for funeral events in Washington, D.C., watched the scene on television at her Bel Air home in Los Angeles, said Joanne Drake, chief of staff of Reagan's office.

" 'It is unbelievable what I am seeing on TV,' " Drake quoted the former first lady as saying. " 'The outpouring of love for my husband is incredible.' "

The flow of mourners was interrupted briefly when Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry arrived. Head bowed, eyes closed and hands clasped in front, the Massachusetts senator stood for about a minute to pay his respects to Reagan.

Kerry, a Roman Catholic, made the sign of the cross and quietly recited a prayer before departing.

Local memorials University of Washington students will hold a nonpartisan gathering at 9 p.m. today on campus to pay tribute to former President Reagan. Students plan to share stories, memories and prayers at the flag pole south of Memorial Way. The public can attend a memorial service for Reagan at 3 p.m. Friday at Cedar Park Assembly of God Church, 16300 112th Ave. N.E., Bothell. Condolences to the Reagan family may be sent to the Office of Ronald Reagan, 11000 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024. Seattle Times staff

Traffic jams and the wait for shuttle buses encouraged camaraderie among the throngs, who passed the time sharing memories of Reagan and making new friends.

"It was really something. There was a kindred spirit out there as we waited," said Linda Peterson, 49, of Temecula, Calif., who left home with her son, Lee, 23, on Monday night.

Their 110-mile trip went swiftly until the last four miles to a local college's parking lot, which took four hours to cover, and then there was a 4-1/2-hour wait to board a shuttle bus to the hilltop library.

"I wanted my son to know exactly what an honorable life is all about — a life of service with such passion," Peterson said.

The viewing at the library in the Ventura County hills west of Los Angeles was the first event in a week of national mourning. The body is to be flown to Washington, D.C., today to lie in state at the Capitol, followed by a national funeral Friday.

Former President Ford told CNN's "Larry King Live" yesterday that Reagan was "a great statesman whom we miss very badly. ... He was a firm believer in the strength of the United States and as a nation that was going to be the leader of the free world."

Duke Blackwood, the library's executive director, said that at the conclusion of the national funeral, the bells of the National Cathedral will ring 40 times and churches nationwide will join in.

The body then will be flown back to California for burial at the library Friday evening.

Nancy Reagan, who accompanied the body to the library, received a message yesterday from Pope John Paul II expressing "deep gratitude" for her husband's commitment to the cause of freedom.

Visitors to the library yesterday included Govs. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, and celebrities Morgan Fairchild and Bruce Boxleitner, who arrived as representatives of the Screen Actors Guild, which Reagan once led.

The period in which Reagan's body was to lie in repose at the library originally was supposed to end at 6 p.m. yesterday, but the overwhelming turnout forced an extension to 10 p.m. More buses were added to the shuttle fleet to handle the crowds.

The Red Cross handed out cups of water that were gulped down by mourners before they boarded buses for the return to Moorpark College.

Jesse and Joni Garcia of Woodland left their Northern California home at 6 p.m. Monday and finally walked past the casket at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday.

"It took five hours for the last five miles of the freeway," said Jesse Garcia, 52. They spent two more hours in the parking lot before boarding a bus.

"It's a lifetime event. I wanted to show my gratitude. I wanted to show my love," he said.

"He came home last night and said, 'We're leaving in 15 minutes,"' his wife said.

"I knew they'd think I was nuts," her husband added. "But he's a homeboy — our governor, our president."

Humbert Cabrera, 38, of San Diego, said while waiting in line: "He should be on Mount Rushmore. He was one of us. He lifted us all."

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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