by What do I remember about Ronald Reagan the President? Not much. I was 4 when he first was elected to office.
I can remember being told he liked jelly beans. I can remember watching the election returns in ’84 when he beat Mondale with almost all of the states and how good that felt because my parents had voted for him. I think I remember seeing his farewell address, and hearing about, if not reading his farewell due to his affliction.
What do I think about last week’s mourning? Appropriate. I back this up with just how many people watched, visited, lined up on roadsides, etc. Had these people not done these things, I would think that it was
just a grand show, but the outpouring of love from people that had not seen this former President for 10 years made all of the pageantry and formality seem fitting.
I do not think that we will see such a showing at a state funeral ever again. I may be proved wrong with Bill Clinton’s funeral, but we’ll see.
What was most touching through all of this, for me, was the faith that shown through the mess. It was in Michael’s statements from the day he died to the memorial service that Friday night. It was in the comments from everyone from Jerry Fallwell to Billy Graham. The clear message that you can know where you are going, and that it is a gift was probably the greatest tribute to Ronald Reagan’s death. I won’t go to guess what the greatest thing he did in life may be.
