Actors - Death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan

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	Actors - Death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan

The death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan took place in June 2004. Ronald Reagan was the 40th president of the United States (1981–1989). Reagan died on June 5, 2004 at his home in Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California. He was 93.

Memorials were held initially near Reagan's home — some of them makeshift — and at his presidential library. The casket was then flown to Washington, D.C. on June 9, 2004 for public viewing and tributes at the U.S. Capitol. A state funeral was conducted at the Washington National Cathedral on June 11, 2004 (which President George W. Bush declared a National day of mourning by proclamation). After the funeral, Reagan's casket was transported back to California for interment at the Reagan Presidential Library.

The state funeral was executed by the Military District of Washington (MDW).

Death and tributes

Reagan had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease for a decade. The morning of his death, there were reports indicating that his health had significantly deteriorated. Reagan died of pneumonia at his home at 16:00 EDT (20:00 UTC, or 13:00 PDT). At his side were his wife Nancy, and two of his children, Ron and Patti. His eldest surviving child, Michael, was with his father the day before. Following his death, Nancy Reagan released a statement.

Tributes

President George W. Bush was in Paris when Reagan died. Some of early international tributes included those of Queen Elizabeth II, former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, then current British prime minister Tony Blair, former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney, then-Canadian prime minister Paul Martin, and then current French President Jacques Chirac.

Flags at the White House, across the United States, and around the world were ordered flown at half-staff for 30 days. Bush declared June 11 a national day of mourning.

Funeral arrangements

State funerals in the U.S.

Usually, the President and his wife will normally make detailed funeral arrangements shortly after being elected president - followed by updated plans as needed. Reagan initally made plans in 1981 and updated his plans since that time.

The state funeral was the first since LBJ's in 1973, because Richard Nixon did not have one, acting on his family's wishes.

Route of funeral

Reagan's casket started off at his presidential library, then was flown to Washington to lie in state. His funeral service was held at Washington National Cathedral, after which the casket returned to his presidential library to be buried at sunset.

During the funeral services, each time Nancy Reagan appeared in public, she was escorted by Army Major General Galen B. Jackman, commanding general of the Military District of Washington (CG MDW) at that time.

Music

Several songs were played each time the casket was moved to and from a venue, including four ruffles and flourishes, "Hail to the Chief," "My Country 'Tis of Thee," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," "God of Our Fathers," "God Bless America," and "America the Beautiful."

Security measures

The state funeral marked the first time that Washington hosted a major event since September 11, 2001.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated the state funeral a National Special Security Event (NSSE), making the Secret Service in charge of security. However, DHS was handling another NSSE at the same time: the G-8 summit in Sea Island, Georgia.

Memorials

People marked Reagan's passing by leaving tributes and condolences at locales around the country significant to Reagan's life, including his presidential library, his birth home in Tampico, Illinois, the funeral home where Reagan's body was taken to hours after he died, and U.S. embassies and consulates overseas.

Service at Reagan Presidential Library

On June 7th, Reagan's body was removed from the funeral home and driven by hearse to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

Reagan's casket was carried by a military honor guard representing all branches of the United States Armed Forces into the lobby of the library to lie in repose. There, a brief service was conducted by Rev. Michael Wenning, former pastor of the Bel Air Presbyterian Church and a close friend of the Reagans. After the family left, the doors of the Reagan Presidential Library opened and people began filing in at the rate of 2,000 an hour throughout the night. In all, about 105,000 visited the Reagan Presidential Library to see the casket.

Departure to Washington

On June 9, Reagan's casket was removed from the presidential library and driven in a hearse to Naval Base Ventura County, in Point Mugu, California, the airfield he flew into and out of when president. SAM 28000, one of the two 747-200s, which serves usually as Air Force One, came to transport the casket to Washington. Thousands of people gathered to witness the plane's departure. Just before she boarded the VC-25A Presidential Aircraft, Nancy Reagan waved to the crowd with her military escort at her side.

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