Posted on: Thursday, June 10, 2004

Reagan family to receive messages from Hawai'i

Advertiser Staff

Gov. Linda Lingle's office is expected to send about 1,200 messages gathered from Hawai'i residents and visitors to the family of former President Ronald Reagan today.

About 850 messages of different tones and character were collected from a table set up in Lingle's outer office on Monday. The rest came from different sites on the Neighbor Islands, according to Lingle spokesman Russell Pang.

While some of the messages sent condolences to the late president's family, most addressed Reagan directly.

"You are our hero and our friend. The world will be so much different without Ronald Reagan in it," wrote Lynn and Roger Eitelman.

Sam Wattles Jr. of Fairbanks, Alaska, alluded to his acting career: "From movies to president, you always had a hard role to play — now you are in your final role. Good luck and God bless."

Theodore Taba took a page from Reagan, using one of the late president's favorite analogies from John Winthrop. "God bless you Pres. Reagan. You are now in the great shining city on the hill above. You gave back to the American people our optimism and our self-confidence."

Pang said the messages, including ones written in Chinese and Korean languages, will be mailed to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., where he is to be buried. Others wishing to leave a message can do so online at the library's Web page.

Meanwhile, Marine Corps Base Hawai'i will hold a memorial service for Reagan at the Pacific War Memorial tomorrow from 11:30 a.m. to noon.

The service will be followed with a 21-gun salute at noon, with one shot occurring every minute. The event is open to the public, and families may bring lawn chairs. The public should use the H-3 Freeway gate.