Mourning over Reagan casket

2004-06-08 07:59

Los Angeles - Nancy Reagan gently laid her head on ex-president Ronald Reagan's flag-draped coffin on Monday in the first of many farewells that will culminate this week in a grand state funeral.

In a poignant moment after the first religious service honouring Reagan, his frail widow, 82, touched the coffin of her husband of 52 years and briefly pressed her cheek against the casket as she wept.

The former first lady appeared in public for the first time since Reagan died on Saturday for a brief service at the presidential library in California where his casket went on display to allow thousands to pay their last respects.

The 40th US president, who died aged 93 after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease, will "lie in repose" for two days at the library in Simi Valley, California before being moved to Washington.

Following the first state funeral in Washington for 31 years on Friday, Reagan will be buried in the library grounds Friday in a private sunset service.

Twelve friends and relatives, including Reagan's children Patti, Ron and Michael, gathered around the black catafalque to hear the former president's former parish priest pray for Reagan and his family.

During the 15-minute service, Nancy Reagan stared down, expressionless, as Patti tightly clutched her hand.

Reverend Michael Wenning of the Bel Air Presbyterian church near Reagan's longtime home, praised him as a "great president, a great world leader" who had "reminded us of the great nation we are."

"Grant, Lord God, that our hearts will be deeply moved and touched by the wonderful memories of this very special human being," he said, after reciting the Lord's prayer.

"Thank you for the partnership that he and Nancy had shared together, for the wonderful example that they had been to all of us in the nation," he said.

The family then gathered around the coffin, touching it, while Nancy held Patti and Ron's hands.

The former first lady lent forward and briefly touched the coffin with cheek. Patti gave her weeping mother a long embrace, and appeared to whisper in her ear, "He's here."

The service took place shortly before the library was opened to allow thousands of Californians to file past the closed coffin and say goodbye to their popular former governor.

The public mourners were led by current governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who like his "hero" and role model Reagan, is a Hollywood star-turned-politician.

A black Cadillac hearse carried Reagan's body in a mahogany casket to the library from a Los Angeles mortuary in a motorcade of limousines carrying the Reagan family and other mourners.

President George W Bush has ordered a national day of mourning on Friday. All but essential government departments will close along with the financial markets.

- AFP