| Page 2 of 3 < > |
Solemn Faces on a Day of Revelry
Visitors stop to view Gerald R. Ford's coffin as they follow the line through the Capitol Rotunda. Mourners began lining up at 5 a.m. to pay their respects to the 38th president.
(By Gerald Martineau -- The Washington Post)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
"My wife and I felt he was someone who has served his country in a dignified way," said Dave Hunsaker, 60, of Fairfax, who was among the first to walk through the Rotunda yesterday. "He was respectful of others. And I'll tell you, frankly, that's kind of hard to find now. He deserves some of my time."
The crowds appeared smaller than those that came to honor former president Ronald Reagan when he was lying in state in the Capitol in June 2004. Some stood in line to see Reagan for more than eight hours.
"Everything has been running rather smoothly," said Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, a Capitol Police spokeswoman. She noted the moderate turnout, saying, "It might be the holidays or people being out of town."
As they waited outside, many mourners discussed New Year's plans. A young couple was planning to ring in the new year aboard a cruise on the Potomac. Others firmed up dinner plans during cellphone conversations. Some extended their vacations to come honor Ford. Others cut them short.
Vickie Mears, 39, wore high heels when she walked past the coffin. They were one of only two pairs of shoes the Leesburg woman packed for a New Year's party at a Hyatt in the District.
"I wasn't expecting to do this, of course," she said, explaining the heels and her fur-trimmed coat. The party was to start at 8 p.m., and "the champagne is already on ice."
Mears and her boyfriend, Dan Weber, 42, arrived Saturday in the District for the bash at the hotel, where 500 people were expected.
"We'll always remember this New Year's," Mears said. "We can say we remember 2007 -- definitely."
Joanne Bienes-Carranza, a 33-year-old teacher visiting from Miami, had no firsthand recollection of Ford's years in the White House but considered his viewing momentous.
"I felt that this was a very important part of history, and I wanted to be part of it," she said. "From what I know if his presidency, he was a very giving person. He made decisions that were good for the country -- not only for his own good."
Lorie Kennedy, 52, echoed that view. The Pennsylvania woman woke up at 4:30 a.m. to drive to Washington with her 12-year-old son to participate in the tribute. She had just graduated from college when Ford assumed the presidency, and she remembered backpacking through Europe, feeling under scrutiny for being an American.
"Nixon and Watergate were the two words" that Europeans immediately identified with Americans, she said. "There was a lot of negativity."
