four minus one 

many a military man (and woman) 

the president 

his horse 

the beginning 

four nbc interns, all waiting in the heat, but having fun 

a city full of half-staff flags 

Midweek Special

Today I attended the state funeral procession of Ronald Reagan. I didn’t attend because Reagan had greatly influenced my life; the first presidential election I remember is Bush 41 v. Dukakis. I didn’t attend because I wanted to spend several hours outside; it gets very hot and humid in a city that’s mainly concrete and near the water. I attended because I wanted to be a part of history and see the first state funeral in 31 years.

I was immediately impressed with the in-step precision of all officials at the event. Seeing the color-guards from so many branches of service, I could put into perspective the true breadth of our military structure and the power that a president has as Commander in Chief of all these men and women. And in a post-9/11 world where there is talk of terrorism during any major event in this city, I was surprised by the extreme sense of safety I felt and the overall calm of the crowd. In all, the procession was something to watch for about 40 minutes, and then, all the waiting, anticipation, sweating, and picture taking was over. I had been there.

Something from the event that you didn’t see on television was that a car carrying an official broke-down. After only a moment’s hesitation, the doors of the vehicle opened in unison. Out jumped four soldiers, each from a different service branch, and in the heat, in their uniforms, in front of a crowd of thousands, these four men began to work together to push the car and move it out of the road.

At the time it seemed almost comical, though really it was awe inspiring. Yes, these soldiers were just doing their job and just doing what needed to be done. But more importantly, these men, without knowing each other, were able to perform together a job so primary yet often undervalued: serving our country. Today serving our country required these four men to push a car down the road. Tomorrow it may require them to give their life for me, a person they’ve never met. But either way, this service is meant to contribute to the betterment of our processes of democracy and freedom -- both which have such power to unite us all, yet we often take for granted.

So when I remember today, I’ll remember the flag-draped casket drawn majestically toward the Capitol, I’ll remember the riderless horse eerily mirroring the icon of Kennedy’s untimely death, I’ll remember the dampened roar of fighter jets missing a plane from their formation, and I’ll remember the spirited gaze of Nancy Reagan as she waved to all of us who had come to honor her husband. But most of all, I’ll remember that I came just to be there and, because of an automobile break-down, I walked away with a much more lasting respect for what it is to have pride in making a better America for us all.

Patriotism Station 

Lots of flowers for a wedding at Union Station. 

Gold inlay, statuary, etc.