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Inside Politics

Reagan observances to span five days

Former president's body to lie in state in Capitol Rotunda


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Reagan's body will lie in state in Washington.

President Bush speaks of Reagan's legacy.

CNN's Bruce Morton on the multifaceted life of Ronald Reagan.
REAGAN OBSERVANCES PLAN

Monday: Ronald Reagan's body is moved to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California where it will lie in repose through the night

Tuesday: The library is open for the public to pay respects, the casket on view

Wednesday: The casket is moved from the library at 8 a.m. PT (11 a.m. ET) to Naval Base Ventura County for transport to Washington; at 6 p.m. ET, a procession moves the body to the Capitol Rotunda where it will lie in state

Thursday: The body lies in state at the Capitol

Friday: The body is moved to Washington National Cathedral for a state funeral service, then is flown back to California for a 6:15 p.m. PT (9:15 p.m. ET) private funeral, followed by burial at the Reagan Library
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SANTA MONICA, California (CNN) -- Services honoring former President Ronald Reagan will take place on both coasts and span five days, the family announced Sunday.

Reagan, who died Saturday at age 93 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease, is to be buried Friday under a monument on a hilltop overlooking the Pacific Ocean, outside the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, family spokeswoman Joanne Drake told reporters.

President Bush ordered flags lowered to half-staff for 30 days Sunday and called a national day of mourning for Friday, when a state funeral for the 40th president is scheduled in Washington.

Federal departments and agencies will close for the day, except those dealing with national security or essential services, under Bush's executive order.

The state funeral and burial will be preceded by five days of observances beginning Monday with a private family service at the library. Afterward, the body will lie in repose at the library for public visitation throughout the night and Tuesday until 6 p.m.

On Wednesday, the body will be flown to Washington, D.C., where it will be taken to the Capitol.

After a ceremony Wednesday evening, the body will lie in state in the Rotunda of the Capitol throughout the night and all day Thursday.

On Friday morning, Reagan's body will be taken through Washington to the National Cathedral for funeral services expected to be attended by numerous heads of state, some of whom will be in the country for the G-8 Economic Summit earlier in the week on Sea Island, Georgia.

Bush will deliver the principal eulogy, but it was unclear who else will speak.

That afternoon the body will be returned to California for the private funeral and burial planned for sunset.

Pallbearers will be Michael Deaver, a former aide; Frederick Ryan, chief of staff from 1989-95; talk show host Merv Griffin; Dr. John Hutton, Reagan's physician during his later years at the White House; and Charles Wick, head of the U.S. Information Agency during Reagan's tenure and a former Hollywood producer.

Drake said Reagan's wife, Nancy Davis Reagan, appreciated the outside support.

"While it is an extremely sad time for Mrs. Reagan, there definitely is a sense of relief that he is no longer suffering and has gone to a better place," Drake told reporters.

"It's been a really hard 10 years for her. She really appreciates the love and the prayers and the support that have been extended to her by so many people."

Before discussing funeral plans, Drake read a statement from the Reagan family:

"Mrs. Reagan and her family are deeply touched by the outpouring of sympathy from across the country and around the world. ...

"As you can understand, the family is in deep mourning at the loss of a husband, a father, a grandfather and their hero."

Asked about Reagan's final days and moments, she said, "I'm not going to get into any health discussions. I think that really breaches their privacy."

Drake said the family has been flooded with phone calls. Drake said the Rev. Billy Graham and his wife, Ruth, were the first dignitaries to offer condolences.

Other calls have come from Lady Bird Johnson, the widow of former President Lyndon Johnson, and from actor Charlton Heston, who has announced that he too suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

Drake outlined the following schedule leading to the funeral:

Monday, June 7

10 a.m. (1 p.m. ET) -- Reagan's body leaves the mortuary for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley

11 a.m. -- Private ceremony

Noon -- Body lies in repose for public viewing through the night

Tuesday, June 8

6 p.m. (9 p.m. ET) -- Public viewing at library ends

Wednesday, June 9

8 a.m. (11 a.m. ET) -- Family arrives at library

8:15 a.m. -- Reagan's body leaves in a motorcade for Naval Base Ventura County in Point Mugu

9 a.m. (noon ET) -- Departure ceremony at the base

9:30 a.m. -- Plane leaves for Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington

5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT) -- Plane arrives

6 p.m. -- Funeral procession to the Capitol

7 p.m. -- Ceremony in Capitol Rotunda

8:30 p.m. -- Body lies in state in the Rotunda for public viewing throughout the night

Thursday, June 10

All day -- Body lies in state at Capitol

Friday, June 11

10:30 a.m. ET -- Departure ceremony at the Capitol

10:45 a.m. -- Motorcade leaves

11:15 a.m. -- Body arrives at Washington National Cathedral

11:30 a.m. -- State funeral service

1:45 p.m. -- Motorcade leaves for Andrews Air Force Base

2:15 p.m. -- Ceremony at Andrews AFB

2:45 p.m. -- Plane leaves Andrews AFB

4:45 p.m. PT (7:45 p.m. ET) -- Plane arrives at Naval Base Ventura County

5:15 p.m. -- Motorcade departs naval base

6 p.m. -- Motorcade arrives at presidential library

6:15 p.m. -- Private service begins

7:30 p.m. (10:30 p.m. ET) -- Burial


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