Thousands pay respect to Reagan
Thousands filed silently past the coffin of former president Ronald Reagan today as final preparations were made for the first US presidential state funeral in more than 30 years.
People queued for up to seven hours to view the president’s casket, which was lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington.
The lying in state began after a ceremony early today.
Mr Reagan’s bereaved wife, Nancy, ran her hand along the coffin’s length, a look of anguish on her face.
The body of the 40th President was taken to Washington after lying in repose at his official library in California.
An estimated 100,000 people filed past the coffin at the library in a mark of respect. Authorities expect double that number to pay their respects in Washington.
The lying in state was scheduled to last 34 hours.
The coffin has been placed on a catafalque of rough pine boards, nailed together and covered with black cloth, which was first used for Abraham Lincoln’s funeral in 1865.
Mr Reagan’s coffin was being guarded around the clock by five military officers who will change position every 30 minutes.
Tomorrow, a national funeral ceremony will be held. The eulogy will be played to mourners in Washington. President Bush and his father, the former president, will also deliver eulogies.
Among those due to attend the Washington ceremony is former Soviet Communist leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Friday has been designated a day of mourning and US stock markets will close for the day as a sign of respect.
Mr Reagan died surrounded by his wife, his daughter Patti Davis and son Ron Reagan on Saturday, aged 93, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.
The official mourning ceremonies have prompted a massive security operation in the US. The funeral plans were made in 1981 in accordance with presidential protocol.
Flags across the nation, including those above the White House and the Capitol building, are flying at half-mast, where they will remain for 30 days.
