Reagan's caisson had big impact

To the editor:

I have always been a fan of our 40th president, Ronald Reagan. I was at a church conference when we received the word that Reagan had passed away. As things happened, our regional planning council was to meet in Washington during the days the 40th president would lie in state.

There were about a hundred people in an area that would normally hold 50. None of us knew each other. There were many discussions about our recollections of Reagan. We sort of became a family. Because of the delay when the wrong plane flew into the no-fly area, we stood for an extra half-hour, but there was no complaining. Everyone relaxed, visited and enjoyed the wait.

Because of the wait, some of the military contingents began passing out because of the heat. Those in front of where we were standing were brought to the gates that separated the crowd from the street, and our group gave water, towels and whatever was needed. All of this was done without any objection.

When the caisson with Reagan's casket passed by, everyone was still. Some were holding pictures of Reagan to their chests. Some were crying. Some were cheering. But all knew that something great had passed by that would never pass by again.

I told the congregation of my church Sunday that it felt as if this was a big lovefest, and you could feel God's presence in that crowd.

H. WELDON MACKE

Cape Girardeau