President Reagan, TKE, dies (Formerly Great Greek Dies AND President and TKE threads)

[huskies228]

Originally posted by MysticCat81
I truly hope you're wrong. I would hope that when it comes to the death of a (former) president, the powers that be would put partisanship aside. State funerals should not be predicated on what a president accomplished but on the solitary fact that he (or she someday) served this country in the office president. Period.

Not that accompishments should be left out of the picture -- this is a time to remember and celebrate them. But making decisions based on criteria like who divided/united the country can be so subjective. I can assure you that there were many, many people in the 80's who would have rejected the idea that Reagan united the country and who would still reject that idea.

I hate to see us becoming a country where simple respect for the president takes a back seat to partisanship.

[/soapbox]

I couldn't agree with your thoughts more. Very well said!

[AXO Alum]

Originally posted by MysticCat81
But making decisions based on criteria like who divided/united the country can be so subjective.

Okay - before the flaming starts on me - I wasn't trying to say that I felt like I have the final say in who or who does not get the honors.

The news reported that very few Presidents get all the honors that Reagan is getting -- and none since Kennedy have received such pomp and circumstance surrounding his death.

So - I hope that that clarifies my post.

[MysticCat]

I wasn't meaning/trying to flame, and I hope it didn't come across that way. Sorry if it did.

But I think there is some sense that much of what we are seeing with Reagan's funeral is somewhat unique. This may stem from the fact that this is the first State Funeral in 31 years -- the only president to die since LBJ (1973) was Nixon, and his burial was kept quiet and private at his family's request, given the circumstances of his leaving office. And of course, JFK's State Funeral is etched into our minds because, again given the circumstances, we've seen parts of it so many times. But much if not most of what we are seeing -- including the procession through Washington and lying in state in the Rotunda -- is indeed part of the tradition of a State Funeral, at least "recently," according to what I've been reading in the Washington Post and elsewhere. And I think that's good -- while a family may have specific desires regarding where the funeral proper will be held (Kennedy's was at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, other presidents' have been elsewhere including their hometowns), I think it's rights for us to have traditions that say "when a president dies, this is what we do." (ETA: It should be noted that permission of survivors is required for a body to lie in state in the Rotunda -- I don't know whether the survivors of any presidents in the last 100 years or so, other than Nixon's, and declined.)

Again, sorry if it sounded like I was trying to start a flame.

[Tom Earp]

Applaus being disrespectful?

I was surprised about it as anyone when I heard it on TV!

Then, I realized, this was out of respct for not only The Deceased President, but for his Wife Nancy who has been there by His side for these many years.

Yes, I did say something about the costs, sorry, tounge in cheek, it is the pomp and circumstance that is befiting a Man, No matter who, He was as a Leader of a Great Country.

Ronald Reagen was the Man for the time and place He was in!

I hope that He has His Greek Fraternity Badge, Tau Kappa Epsilon placed over his heart.

A Greek in life, A Greek In Death.

[SurfinDBeach]

Indeed...

TKE - fraternity for life, and in the CHAPTER ETERNAL...


Goodness, you guys ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED THIS THREAD!

It's absolutely ridiculous and TACTLESS!

Anyhow, let's honor his life...

Like I said, no president was perfect - and NOT EVERY PRESIDENT had to face THE BRINK OF NUCLEAR WAR on a daily basis...

So let's give him credit where credit is due - Americans became proud once again, the Soviet Union collapsed, we all felt safer...

Great man with great character, great leader, great husband, great FRATER OF TAU KAPPA EPSILON...


Once again, Rest in Peace Frater Reagan...

[SurfinDBeach]

We probably would be out of Iraq by now ...

LOL... J/K...


We'd be in good hands, that's for sure...

Remember that Frater Reagan faced the brink of nuclear war on a normal basis...

He ended up helping to collapse the Soviet Union, bringing pride back to the American People, and helped us feel safer...

Honor where it is due, that's what we should be giving right now...


Thank you Tom for honoring our Frater in Tau Kappa Epsilon with your posts...

It's very uplifting, yet solemn...


Once again, RIP in the Chapter Eternal Frater Reagan...

[CASIGKAP]

I really don't like the shots they keep giving of Nancy Reagan. I truly feel that at a time like this, we should respect her privacy b/c only she knows the grief she feels. We can have all the empathy in the world but the pain is hers and hers alone. Everytime they show her, I start to cry for the loss of her beloved.

[Senusret I]

CASIGKAP,

Although I agree with you, isn't that the unfortunate trade-off when you have a state funeral?

I will never forget President Nixon's grief when Pat Nixon died (even though it wasn't a state funeral)....I felt like cameras shouldn't have been there.

But, they are/were public figures....so unless the family demands privacy, I don't think we'll see "respectful" and "respectable" coverage.

[Rudey]

The funeral was really touching. The bond markets are closed in his rememberance and I'm happy I had the luxury of seeing the speeches. Bush Sr. gave the best one for him.

-Rudey

[TheEpitome1920]

I didn't see the funeral and I'm not sure if this has been answered and I don't feel like searching.

But..did the fraternity have a burial ceremony for him?

[Rudey]

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
I didn't see the funeral and I'm not sure if this has been answered and I don't feel like searching.

But..did the fraternity have a burial ceremony for him?

Good question. Is TKE doing anything special for him? I'd like to know as well.

-Rudey

[KellyB369]

I thought the Bush Jr's speech was really good but I only got to hear the end of Bush Sr's. Can anyone find the transcript of that or of the whole funeral?

[The1calledTKE]

Originally posted by Rudey
Good question. Is TKE doing anything special for him? I'd like to know as well.

-Rudey

http://www.tke.org/

Has alot about him and all the plans where TKE's can go to memorialize him. We already have and award named after him. ( http://www.tke.org/tef/scholarships/sch_reagan.htm ) We changed our philantropy from special olympics to Reagan Research Institute Fund which deals with Alzheimers. I am sure some greater memorial is being planned and wil be approved at the next conclave.

[TheEpitome1920]

Originally posted by The1calledTKE
http://www.tke.org/

Has alot about him and all the plans where TKE's can go to memorialize him. We already have and award named after him. ( http://www.tke.org/tef/scholarships/sch_reagan.htm ) We changed our philantropy from special olympics to Reagan Research Institute Fund which deals with Alzheimers. I am sure some greater memorial is being planned and wil be approved at the next conclave.

Great dedication site!

[DZHBrown]

Originally posted by KellyB369
I thought the Bush Jr's speech was really good but I only got to hear the end of Bush Sr's. Can anyone find the transcript of that or of the whole funeral?

Here are the transcripts of the other eulogies, but I haven't found the entire funeral. They were all really great speeches!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,122457,00.html