Farewell to Reagan, the Respected President of the American People - 2004-06-08

Thousands of residents of California pay their final respects to the late President Ronald Reagan at the Presidential Library located in Simi Valley, California. The casket carrying President Reagan's body will be kept at the Presidential Library in Simi Valley for public homage until it is flown to Washington, D.C. Mr. Reagan, who was the 40th President of the United States, passed away last Saturday at the age of 93 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Nancy Reagan, Mr. Reagan's wife, and other family members participated in a brief religious ceremony while weeping before the public was allowed to view the casket. The casket will be flown to Washington on Wednesday and then transported through Constitution Avenue in a horse-drawn carriage, where it will be placed in the U.S. Capitol during a ceremony. A formal memorial service for the former president will be held on Friday. President Bush has declared Friday a national day of mourning. The casket of the late President Reagan and the proceedings of his memorial will be under heavy protection from the Third Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army, a distinguished unit referred to as the 'Old Guard.' Established in 1784, the Third Infantry is the oldest active-duty regiment in the U.S. Army. The sitting president activated the Third Infantry as a 'ceremonial unit' in 1949 to ensure security around Washington, D.C. Three years later, President Truman renamed the regiment the 'Presidential Honor Guard.' Stationed at Fort Myer in Virginia, the Third Infantry is responsible for military ceremonies at the White House, the Department of Defense, and national memorial services. The Third Infantry has participated in the funerals of many U.S. presidents, including Kennedy, Eisenhower, Truman, and Johnson.