Conservative Blogger: In Memoriam: Ronald Wilson Reagan

"At the moment I feel just fine. I intend to live the remainder of the years God gives me on this earth doing the things I have always done. I will continue to share life's journey with my beloved Nancy and my family. I plan to enjoy the great outdoors and stay in touch with my friends and supporters. In closing let me thank you, the American people, for giving me the great honor of allowing me to serve as your president. When the Lord calls me home, whenever that may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future. I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead." - Ronald Reagan, from his letter disclosing his diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease, November 5, 1994

I weep on this day.

To me, if Conservatism had a Patron Saint, it would be former President Ronald Wilson Reagan.

I was eleven years old when I became politically aware, I suppose. It was January 20, 1981--the day that Ronald Reagan was inaugurated. My sixth grade Social Studies teacher brought a television cart into the classroom and our "lesson" for the day was to watch the Reagan inauguration.

I recall sitting in awe as Reagan gave a speech that spoke to me--a child--and made me proud to live in the United States of America.

Following the speech, we were allowed to watch more coverage of the Inaugural, including the parade that followed. During this time, our teacher suggested that we were free to write letters to President to congratulate him, which he would mail. I went and got a piece of white-lined paper, and began to write to the new President.

I can't recall the text of the letter, now twenty-three years down the road. I recall filling about three quarters of the page and then signed my name. Beneath it, I wrote the following:

"Thanks for making me proud to be an American."

The letter wasn't complete, however.

Using the supplies present in the room, I decided it was fitting to draw a picture at the bottom. Using mostly crayons, I drew a picture of the President giving his inaugural address. I finished it off with a rather large rendering of the American flag flying in the sun. I've never been particularly good at drawing, and this attempt was no exception. I was immensely proud of my efforts, though, and beamed when I turned my letter into my teacher for mailing.

Several years later, when he was in his re-election campaign in 1984, I remember going to bed on election night as the returns were coming in. I begged my Mom to let me stay up past 10:00pm, but she always drew a hard line on that kind of thing. It was a school night, and that meant time for bed. I went begrudgingly.

When I woke up the next morning and turned on the Today Show to see the results, I was stunned. Reagan had won 49 of 50 states, and the term landslide didn't quite do it justice.

The count in the Electoral College was 525-13. Thirteen. Mondale won his home state of Minnesota and the District of Columbia. There hadn't been such a result since the days of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In 1985, I learned that President Reagan was to speak from the steps of the State House in Concord--a mere 40 minutes from my front door. The only problem was that it was a school day and I'd have to skip school. My mother wasn't typically one for "busting me out" of school, so I went to talk to her.

I told her what was going on, and I told her how much I wanted to go. A naturalized American, my Mother told me that she thought that everyone should get to see the President at least once. She told me that she'd call me in sick to the school and that if anyone found out, they could come talk to her. (I love my Mom.)

So, on September 18, 1985, a friend of mine and I piled into a car and headed for Concord. We found some parking and waited in line to get through the metal detectors that were set up in the street in downtown Concord, New Hampshire. We got there early enough so that we had a great vantage point, diagonally to Reagan's left, under a tree.

The space in front of the State House was eventually packed with people. I'd never seen so many gather in Concord in my life for anything. I could see him clearly, and his speech was one I'll never forget.

As I have grown older, I have learned the value of the Reagan ideal and have grown to appreciate how it has shaped and driven the modern-day Republican Party. Reagan's optimism, his spirit, and his humor are all alive and well in us all.

I would not be the Conservative I am today, were it not for Ronald Reagan. None of us would be. Conservative Blogger owes as much to the former President as it does to Conservatism as a guiding principle.

So, on this day, I weep, I reflect and I mourn for someone whom I admire. Someone I revere. Someone for whom I have an immense affection. This day, America has lost one of her favorite sons and one of her most faithful servants.

This is just one man's remembrance.

Rest in peace, Dutch. Thank you for all you have done for this great Nation.

William Smith
ConservativeBlogger.com

Posted by WilliamSmith on June 5, 2004 10:30 PM to Conservative Blogger