Did anyone watch the funeral?

[Wildcard Ky]

This isn't about Reagan, it's about the procession and the pageantry of a military style funeral.

I think any military funeral is an awesome spectacle, so obviously I'm going to be completely captivated by a state funeral. I've been to several military funerals, and I always get teary eyed at them.

The dignity and honor of the Caisson and the riderless horse was so moving to me. The quiet procession through Washington, then the missing man formation by the Air Force as they neared the Capitol, then the 21 gun salute as they reached the Capitol.

I was especially moved as the casket was being carried up the steps of the capitol. About 1/2 way up they stopped and changed casket bearers. The group that was being relieved all bowed to the casket before turning it over to the next detail.

The last state funeral of this magnitude was LBJ. I was 7 when it happened so I don't remember any of it. I'm so glad that I watched this one. It was an event of splendor and grandeur that I will never forget.

I have now added being present at a state funeral procession to my list of things to do before I die.

 

[cantdog]

The funeral

No

 

[Clare Quilty]

Not merely no, but hell no!

 

[Wildcard Ky]

Not merely no, but hell no!

I would expect no less from someone as hate filled as you.

 

[Clare Quilty]

I would expect no less from someone as hate filled as you.

That's really funny coming from a gun-crazed maniac.

I have no interest in bantering back and forth with you. Chances are I loathe everything you stand for. So, in the interest of not clogging up unrelated threads with these little exchanges, and since I really don't care to read anything born of your thought processes, I'm going to henceforth ignore you.

 

[Wildcard Ky]

That's really funny coming from a gun-crazed maniac.

It's even funnier coming from an uneducated, uninformed minion of the gun control crowd that admits to owning three guns. You reek of hypocrisy.

 

[Guest]

Нет (Nyet)

 

[Guest]

Hrrrmmm

i did not watch the funeral WC.. however, i do think the pomp and circumstance is a beautiful thing to witness.

it was an awesome funeral that my grandfather had when he was buried at arlington, the 21 gun salute was poignant..

i believe that appreciation for these types of rituals shouldnt looked down on.. you obviously do not have to have any sort of 'gun' or political affiliation to appreciate them..

 

[minsue]

Listened to it being carried live on the radio on my way home from work, but that's because I always listen to the news on my way home and that's what they were carrying. I didn't seek it out, but I didn't change the channel, either.

Whatever I feel about his politics, I also have deep feelings about respect for the grieving.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Belly Button Effect

deleted...

...possibly better suited to another thread.

 

[cantdog]

Lucky, whom are you lecturing?

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Lucky, whom are you lecturing?

I didn't post here to point fingers but if you've visited any one of the other four or five threads, they'll stick out like sore thumbs.

It wasn't really meant to be a lecture, either. Just my opinion. Which is likely worth less than the bag of Funyuns I just HAD to have and went all the way up to the gas station for at 2:17 a.m.

Why?

~lucky

 

[cantdog]

I thought we were doing okay here, that's all. I'm not a fan of funerals, whoever's they are. Funerals are for the living people who go to them. I almost never do. Most of what gets done and said has little to do with the deceased, and often embarrassingly so. Much of it cheapens the memory and emotions or is so untrue to it as to leave a taste of hypocrisy.

State funerals, at least, have so much formal formula that the usual dumb eulogies and foolish songs are at a minimum. Ideally, the whole thing should be wordless. Book of common prayer, taps, and shut up. Leave the mourners to their private thoughts. State funerals come closest to it, except for those of paupers without mourners at all. Paradoxically, those are the most dignified and simple of all.

I thought the thread was about state funerals, not the office or anything like it. Haven't we already had four threads with hushed respect for the man already?

I truly am sorry that you've become angry, though.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Angry?

It's late, cant, and my brain is fried from hustling to get a story done by deadline. I'm not sure how you got that I was angry out of my last post, but strange things like that happen to me all the time.

I'm not angry and I didn't think my original post was out of order, but in your opinion it was out of place on this particular thread, which is why it's no longer there. What more do you want? I hadn't posted anything to any of the other threads until now, but perhaps I should've kept it that way. If I feel strongly enough about what I had to say, I'll take it to another of the four threads and post it there.

For the record, it wasn't directed at any one person in particular. I don't like the idea of disrespecting anyone who's died. That's just me. In this case, I thought there was more to it than just the man, but it's all moot. My brain is still fried tonight and I'm at least an hour from having this story wrapped up. So I'll slink off with my Funyuns and keep it to misself.

~lucky

 

[cantdog]

I never want to come between you and your Funyuns, or you and your opinions. What are we here for, if not to give ear to each other?

Sorry I spoke. I guess I've become as weary of the scandalized right thinkers as the kickers of the dead.

Forgive me,

cantdog

 

[shereads]

I watched, and I even cried. Not over the pageantry, which is impressive and reminds me of JFK, but because it felt like watching my mom burying my dad, all over again. The Reagans are my mom and dad's generation, and she's small and always beautifully groomed like Nancy, and my dad used to compliment her by saying, "You look like Nancy Reagan in that dress!"



I didn't respect Reagan's politics, but my dad did, and I was watching the last of something that had relevance when he was alive.

Question: Does anyone know who decides whether a president gets a state funeral?

 

[lucky-E-leven]

... I was watching the last of something that had relevance when he was alive.

There. This works for me and is much shorter. That's mainly what I wanted to say.

~lucky

 

[shereads]

my brain is fried <snip> So I'll slink off with my Funyuns and keep it to misself.

Fried Brain & Funyuns? I'm starved.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Fried Brain & Funyuns? I'm starved.

It's the 'Wednesday Night Got A Deadline' diet. Come on over. I'm a little short on brains but I bought the big bag of Funyuns.



~lucky

 

[shereads]

It's the 'Wednesday Night Got A Deadline' diet. Come on over. I'm a little short on brains but I bought the big bag of Funyuns.



~lucky

Funyans are nature's most perfect food.

Funyans. The Other White Meat.

When I crave artificial food, I go for Cheetos. But I can't blame you for wanting to avoid the orange fingers when you're using your keyboard.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Funyans are nature's most perfect food.

Funyans. The Other White Meat.

When I crave artificial food, I go for Cheetos. But I can't blame you for wanting to avoid the orange fingers when you're using your keyboard.

Are we sisters? I hammered half a bag of Cheetos last night. I was burned out and needed a change, hence the Funyuns.

~lucky

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Yes, I watched some of the proceedings tonight. I enjoyed it and thought it was nicely done.

~lucky

 

[Bizkit_Writer]

Heck yeah i watched the funeral and everything else that happened this week with Reagan, My father is a huge fan of Regan's so he watched it too and sure its sad but its also a time for remembering a man who was the most wonderful president at least my Dad thinks that this country has ever had. And I am watching the funeral on Friday too.

Much to Mr. Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I watched of course.

A state funeral is the president's choice Sher, or the choice of the first lady should he die in office unexpectedly. Some presidents, notably Truman & FDR, chose private ceremonies. Nixon had a state funeral, but at the request of the family he lay in state in California.

-Colly

 

[amicus]

Watched, yes four cable news channels, commentary, history, background, eulogies, history of State Funerals.

It appeared, to me, that there has not been such pageantry since the John F. Kennedy days...over 40 years ago.

Important, I think, for a generation, actually two generations, the current one and the last one, to bear witness to a major event that in fact and deed embraces a millenium.

Personally I feared the fragile appearance of Nancy Reagan might result in her collapse. Thankfully, so far, that has not happened.

I think that few, of any political persuasion, were not moved by grandeur of the occasion.

Amicus