Nation mourns death of 40th president, Ronald Reagan

La Cañadans will join mourners across the nation tomorrow, when a state funeral is held in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and a final farewell given to Ronald Wilson Reagan, this country’s 40th president, who died Saturday, June 5.

Most state and county offices, as well as federal entities such as U.S. Postal Service branches - will be closed. Local public schools and LCF City Hall offices will remain open, as will banks and businesses in the community. For one month, flags will be flown at half mast across the nation.

Born in 1911 in Illinois, Reagan succumbed after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

“My family and I would like the world to know that we appreciate everyone’s prayers over the years,” former First Lady Nancy Reagan said in an official press release.

More than 100,000 people began their good-byes to the former president when they visited his casket at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley this past week. Reagan’s final resting place will be at the library following private services to be held there tomorrow evening.

“I’m glad I lived in an era when Ronald Reagan was president. He was a role model, a man of conviction, a man with very high moral standards and someone who would never compromise those standards,” said Al Restivo, chairman of the La Cañada Flintridge Republican Committee. “He gave America hope and provided us with a sense that our greatest days are still ahead of us. He was a leader who knew where he wanted to take the nation and stood his ground regardless of poll and popularity reports. I believe that Ronald Reagan will go down in history as one of America’s greatest leaders.”

Reagan’s casket, accompanied by his widow and other family members and friends, left aboard a presidential jet from Point Magu Naval Base, Wednesday morning for the journey to Washington, D.C. where Reagan will lie in state at the Rotunda of the Nation’s Capitol for two days.

“Ronald Reagan changed the world. From the fall of communism to the tax relief that reshaped our economy, his legacy is still shaping our lives, said Congressman David Dreier, chairman of the House Rules Committee, who represents La Cañada Flintridge and other foothill communities. “For me personally, he was, and always will be, a tremendous source of inspiration. It was a great honor for me to consider him a friend and leader. My thoughts and prayers are with Nancy and the entire Reagan family.” Dreier (R-San Dimas) for the 26th District, was first elected to Congress in 1980, the same day President Reagan was elected president.

During Reagan’s two terms as president, he appeared 44 times on the cover of Time magazine and was named twice as “Man of the Year” - in 1981 and 1983.

Reagan began his public career as a radio sports announcer and after a screen test in 1936 he landed a contract as a Hollywood actor. In the next two decades he appeared in 53 films. As president of the Screen Actors Guild, Reagan became vocal over issues of communism in the film industry. His political views shifted from liberal to conservative.

In 1966 he was elected Governor of California by a margin of a million votes. He was reelected in 1970. Reagan won the Republican presidential nomination in 1980 and was elected president against incumbent Jimmy Carter. Throughout his political career, Reagan was well-supported by La Cañada Flintridge voters, where a strong Republican base is found.

On January 20, 1981, Reagan took the national office and after only 69 days in office was wounded and survived an assassination attempt.

In 1984, Reagan, successfully won the presidential election for a second term. It was at the end of this term that Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.