The Twilight's Last Gleaming
RONALD WILSON REAGAN, 1911--2004
"And whatever else history may say about me when I'm gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears, to your confidence rather than your doubts. My dream is that you will travel the road ahead with liberty's lamp guiding your steps and opportunity's arm steadying your way. My fondest hope for each one of you -- and especially for young people -- is that you will love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism. May each of you have the heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, and the hand to execute works that will make the world a little better for your having been here. May all of you as Americans never forget your heroic origins, never fail to seek divine guidance, and never lose your natural, God-given optimism. And finally, my fellow Americans, may every dawn be a great new beginning for America and every evening bring us closer to that shining city upon a hill." --Ronald Reagan (1992)
Fellow Americans,
The long journey now has ended
Yes, the Lord has called me home
But my dear beloved Nancy
You will never be alone
For I will walk beside you
The way you walked with me
You will feel my presence with you
Just the way it used to be
For all the things that broke your heart
As you watched my memory fade
God fixed, in but a moment
Kept the promises He made
That in Heaven, "Old is New"
"Sick are well forevermore"
"Failing minds and tiring bodies"
"Are made whole, I will restore"
The road we traveled hand in hand
Took a long and painful bend
We had no way of knowing
When this trip would finally end
I know the days were lonely
As you sat quiet by my side
This journey to an unknown land
Truly was, "A Long Good-by"
America, I thank you
For the great stage that you gave me
To enjoy life's awesome ride
Where the World became my audience
With Nancy at my side
I auditioned for The President
Got the part ~ answered the call
It was my finest hour on stage
The greatest, "Gig," of all
I had some, not so funny lines
The most impressive I recall
Were those four words to Gorbachev
"Tear down this wall"
Keep your faith in God, America
Keep standing, straight and strong
As I told you in my last, "Farewell"
"There will be a brighter dawn"
As the world takes pause to ponder
Midst turmoil and unrest
The Director's cast is being filled
He chooses just the best
Here on God's great set in Heaven
I can hear the angels sing
That great old hymn, "Amazing Grace"
The final scene will soon begin
As I watched the credits rolling
At the ending of the film
I saw again how truly blessed
My life on Earth had been
I see green pastures in the distance
And my horse is waiting there
With a golden saddle shining
And my favorite hat to wear
RONALD WILSON REAGAN, 1911--2004
