Reagan returns to capital

THE body of former US President Ronald Reagan, escorted by Nancy Reagan and his children, began its journey to the capital, Washington, yesterday for national memorial services.

A Boeing 747 from the White House fleet took off at 9.39am from the Navy's Point Mugu air station, en route to Andrews Air Force Base.

From Andrews, the body was taken to the Capitol to lie in state until tomorrow's funeral at the National Cathedral. It will then be returned to California for burial at the presidential library that evening.

Before the take-off, in a simple runway ceremony with the former first lady watching, the flag-draped casket was carried from a hearse as a Marine Corps band played Hail to the Chief, God Bless America and Amazing Grace. A battery from the 11th Marine Artillery Regiment of the 1st Marine Division fired a thundering salute.

At the top of the aircraft stairs, Nancy Reagan waved goodbye as the crowd applauded.

The trip began earlier under gray clouds at the hilltop Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, where more than 100,000 people had paid their respects during the previous two days. A 45-minute motorcade brought the casket to Point Mugu, where hundreds of civilians and sailors in white waited under the clearing blue sky.

During the drive to Point Mugu, crowds had watched from overpasses as the procession headed along US 101. Traffic on the opposite side of the freeway came to a halt and some drivers got out and stood with hands over their hearts.

Farm workers around the base climbed off tractors, removed hats from their heads and put them over their hearts, and a little boy stood at attention and saluted from the tailgate of a pick-up truck by an onion field. "Rest Well, President Reagan," said a sign.

More than 100,000 admirers had filed past the former president's coffin at the library in a steady stream that continued past nightfall on Tuesday.

"It's a lifetime event. I wanted to show my gratitude. I wanted to show my love," said Jesse Garcia, aged 52, who with his wife came from their home in Northern California.

Reagan, the nation's 40th chief executive, was 93 when he died Saturday of pneumonia, as a complication of Alzheimer's disease. His death revealed that the popularity of the former Republican president, California governor and movie actor remained strong despite his long absence from public life.

"It is unbelievable what I am seeing on TV," Reagan office chief of staff Joanne Drake quoted Nancy Reagan as saying. "The outpouring of love for my husband is incredible."

In Washington, people already had begun arriving to wait in line to view Reagan's casket at the Capitol Rotunda. Among them was Carol Williams, who said she stood in line for five hours to vote for Reagan in 1984 and on Wednesday drove more than two hours from her home in Chesterfield, Virginia.

"President Reagan restored dignity and character to the White House. He never wavered in front of the American people," Williams said, as she stood a few blocks from the US Capitol. "What less could I do than stand in line for a few hours?"

Around 5,000 people will be able to file past the coffin each hour at the Rotunda. The coffin will be placed on a catafalque of rough pine boards, nailed together and covered with black cloth, which was first used for Abraham Lincoln's funeral.

Mr Reagan's coffin will be guarded around the clock by five military officers who will change position every 30 minutes.

The funeral is expected to draw up to 200,000 people on to the streets. Millions more around the world are expected to watch on television.

Tomorrow has been designated a day of mourning and US stock markets will close for the day as a sign of respect.