thedrifter
02-06-06, 07:11 PM
The late Ronald Reagan honored on his 95th birthday
By JEFF WILSON, Associated Press Writer
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) - President Ronald Reagan was remembered on what would have been his 95th birthday Monday as a "peace through strength" warrior who ended the Cold War and restored America's pride after a period of national malaise.
President Bush sent a wreath and there was a Marine Corps 21-gun salute during the half-hour ceremony in honor of the late president, who died on June 5, 2004, after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.
"This was a man who literally saved the world," said Marine Col. John Coleman, the Camp Pendleton base commander said.
He then joined retired Gen. P.X. Kelley, former member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in placing the red-and-white carnation wreath on the grave at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Caroline Busch, celebrating her seventh birthday at the library, placed a floral birthday bouquet on the grave.
Kelley, who credited the nation's 40th chief executive with restoring pride in the nation and the military, recalled Reagan telling him early on in his first term in the White House how he wanted to return salutes to the nation's military men and women.
Kelley told Reagan he could do whatever he wanted as commander in chief.
"From then on he never missed returning a salute," Kelley told about 500 people gathered outside the wind-swept hilltop library.
Former first lady Nancy Reagan did not attend.
"It's a rough day for her emotionally. His birthday was always his favorite day," Reagan chief of staff Joanne Drake said.
After the ceremony, which concluded with a bugler playing "Taps," guests were invited to the library lobby for chocolate birthday cake - a favorite of Reagan's.
By JEFF WILSON, Associated Press Writer
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) - President Ronald Reagan was remembered on what would have been his 95th birthday Monday as a "peace through strength" warrior who ended the Cold War and restored America's pride after a period of national malaise.
President Bush sent a wreath and there was a Marine Corps 21-gun salute during the half-hour ceremony in honor of the late president, who died on June 5, 2004, after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.
"This was a man who literally saved the world," said Marine Col. John Coleman, the Camp Pendleton base commander said.
He then joined retired Gen. P.X. Kelley, former member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in placing the red-and-white carnation wreath on the grave at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Caroline Busch, celebrating her seventh birthday at the library, placed a floral birthday bouquet on the grave.
Kelley, who credited the nation's 40th chief executive with restoring pride in the nation and the military, recalled Reagan telling him early on in his first term in the White House how he wanted to return salutes to the nation's military men and women.
Kelley told Reagan he could do whatever he wanted as commander in chief.
"From then on he never missed returning a salute," Kelley told about 500 people gathered outside the wind-swept hilltop library.
Former first lady Nancy Reagan did not attend.
"It's a rough day for her emotionally. His birthday was always his favorite day," Reagan chief of staff Joanne Drake said.
After the ceremony, which concluded with a bugler playing "Taps," guests were invited to the library lobby for chocolate birthday cake - a favorite of Reagan's.