Ronald Reagan Library

8.31.16

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

The Ronald Reagan Library was recommended to us by our dear Tibbetts friends... and we are SO glad we went!  Ronald Reagan was president from the time Tim and I were 9 until we were juniors in high school... and we paid attention so closely to current events at the time that this trip was just review for us... NOT!  ;P   We both learned so much and grew in appreciation of Ronald and Nancy Reagan and all that they did for our country and for people around the world. 

The kids really enjoyed it too... and everyone has added comments from here on out, introduced by our first initial so you know who's talking... 

Making movies with Ronnie

M (Mom) - "Ronnie" & Nancy's love story is really so sweet.  How heartening to see their love survive and even deepen through his political career.  How often do we see that?  He adored her & let her know that often.  She was a strong woman who completely supported her husband and complimented his strengths.  The final chapter of their love story is especially touching, as she devoted herself to his care as he suffered through Alzheimer's for the final ten years of his life.

B-  This is Jadan and me being Dad's Secret Service agents.  :) 

About two months after Ronald Reagan became President, he was leaving a hotel after making a speech when a crazy young man shot at him.  Actually, in the room after this "Secret Service" photo we took, we "witnessed" the assassination attempt.  The room was dark, and the real video footage that had been taken was played.  (I can't imagine being that videographer!)  We flinched as the sound of gunshots rang out.  Later Ronald Reagan said he thought they were just firecrackers.  We watched as the Secret Service clustered around the attacker, making a cage of people.  There was shouting, commanding, and general panicking. 

Reagan had been rushed to the hospital after one of the agents hurled him into the car and the President had started coughing up blood.  A bullet had ricocheted off the car and hit him in the lung... an inch away from his heart.  The doctors who took care of him where amazing.  Ronald Reagan had lost half of the blood in his body.   He tried to calm everyone down, and joked with the surgeon saying, "Well I hope you're a Republican!"  The doctor replied, "Today sir, we are all Republicans."

I was still trying to get my heart to stop pounding from watching the assassination attempt! My dear friend was hurt, dying!  But by becoming almost broken, he gained strength he never could have had.  And he trusted in his Father.  He also thought that the man who had tried to shoot him could use some prayer too.   And so he prayed.

I'll always remember watching Ronald Reagan and Nancy, waving from a window high above the street.  His face reassuring, but revealing that there sure had been pain, and he knew the fear of the people.  And then, his smile broke forth as he gave a thumbs up.

President Reagan was strong in hard times.  He even cared about other people's hearts while he lay close to death.  And he was trustworthy.

J- This is us kids standing in front of the Air Force One, the president's personal airplane. Well, not anymore. This is the old one. When we went inside (yes, INSIDE the real Air Force One!), the plane was like a hotel room. It had dining tables, closets, and of course, jellybeans. Ronald Reagan loved jellybeans. There were two jars of jellybeans in almost every room. I like jellybeans too. RR's favorite flavor was black licorice. Whoa, how did I get so sidetracked?! Reagan also always had a cake in the AF1 in case someone on the plane was having a birthday, or an anniversary, or something like that, but they had to work in the AF1, then he would give them some cake to celebrate! I think Ronald Reagan is my favorite president.

T:  One of the best ways for us to grow, is to come face to face with Greatness... to meet or learn about a person whose life is a great example of doing good for the benefit of others. We definitely came face to face with Greatness today as we learned about Ronald Reagan. He not only changed our country for the better, his courage and convictions changed the world.  And we are all better for it.  What a great experience this was!    

E: Going to the Ronald Reagan Museum was really awesome. Some of my favorite parts were the interactive exhibits. I loved listening to real radio programs he did, hearing real stories from real people, doing a fun etiquette quiz, crawling though a tunnel in the "Berlin Wall", and playing fun games in "Rebuilding America".  The worst part about the museum is that you feel like you meet, and lose, a great friend. All in one day.