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US begins farewell to Reagan
07/06/2004 20:34 - (SA)
Marc Lavine
Los Angeles - America's sombre five-day farewell to Ronald Reagan began on Monday when his body was moved to his presidential library in California ahead of a state funeral in Washington.
Events were to be held across the country ahead of the funeral which is expected to be attended by many past and present world leaders in Washington National Cathedral.
The movie-star turned politician died on Saturday at the age of 93 after a 10-year battle against Alzheimer's disease.
The former president's wife of 52 years, Nancy, appeared in public for the first time since his death on Saturday to accompany the cortege.
She studied floral tributes to the late president as she arrived at the funeral home in the Santa Monica area of Los Angeles where Reagan's body was prepared to lie in state.
Reagan's body was to lie in repose for two days so mourners could bid farewell to the former California governor. Present governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was to be among the first to pay their final respects at the library.
Private sunset ceremony on a hilltop
The coffin will be flown to Washington on Wednesday. After lying in state at the US Capitol, Reagan will receive the first state funeral on FRiday since Lyndon Johnson died 31 years ago.
Reagan's body will then be flown straight back California to be buried in a private sunset ceremony on a hilltop he personally picked at the library.
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.
Bush is expected to deliver a eulogy at the funeral.
Flags on public and military buildings will be flown at half mast for 30 days.
The funeral arrangements were announced a day after the former Republican president died.
"Mrs Reagan and her family are deeply touched by the outpouring of sympathy from across the country and around the world," said family spokesperson Joanne Drake on Sunday.
"As you can understand, the family is in deep mourning at the loss of a husband, a father, a grandfather and their hero," she said.
Hours after Reagan's death, the family began working with the White House and military officials to organise the official tribute and goodbye to the man who helped topple communism and transformed America's political landscape.
High praise from Gorbachev
The 40th US president will be taken to the Capitol by a horse-drawn gun carriage in a sober, slow procession accompanied by a mournful drumbeat.
Many of Reagan's friends and ex-foes from his two terms in 1981-'89 are expected to be at the funeral.
Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, praised his former negotiating partner for his pragmatism.
He will at the funeral alongside former British prime minister of the 1980s, Margaret Thatcher.
Reagan's death reopened debate into the legacy of his anti-communist crusade and his role in ending the Cold War.
- AFP
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