REVEALED: Nancy Reagan’s Last Wishes

REVEALED: Nancy Reagan’s Last Wishes

Before Nancy Reagan is laid to rest next to the love of her life, there are plans to celebrate her extraordinary life with a funeral that was planned by none other than Nancy Reagan herself! From the program participants, to the flowers, she has planned for, and her spirit will definitely be in attendance for that.

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“We did add one thing to the program that she hadn’t specifically requested – President Reagan loved bagpipe music, and his funeral ended by the playing of bagpipes. We have decided to end her funeral the same way, as a tribute to him and their love.”

“Battle Hymn of the Republic,” sung by the Santa Susana High School Choir, will open the program, according to a program released Thursday morning by the foundation. Nancy chose the patriotic hymn because it was “her husband’s favorite song,” the official says.

Eulogies will be given by Nancy’s two children, Ron Reagan Jr. and Patti Davis, who told NBC’s Today on Thursday that she would share poignant memories and funny stories of the mother with whom she had a complicated relationship.

The dozens of dignitaries – including former President Jimmy Carter and four of America’s first ladies – expected to attend will also hear Nancy’s favorite passages from Scripture and reflections from former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw.

In what promises to be an especially emotional moment, one of the hundreds of love letters Ron wrote to her will be read by former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who was in office at the same as Reagan and forged a lasting close friendship with the first couple.

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The 1st Marine Division Band from Camp Pendleton will provide the instrumental prelude to a program led by the Rev. Stuart A. Kenworthy, vicar of the Washington National Cathedral, and including:
• “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” sung by the Santa Susana High School Choir
• Reading of Proverbs 31:10-31 by Ms. Anne Peterson
• Letter from Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan, read by the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney
• “Ave Maria,” sung by Opera singer Ms. Ana Marie Martinez
• Reading of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, read by Mr. Barton Hegeler
• Gospel Reading of John 14:1-6 by Ms. Diane Sawyer
• Pie Jesu-Requiem, sung by Opera singer Ms. Ana Marie Martinez
• Reflections by the Honorable James A. Baker
• Reflections by Mr. Tom Brokaw
• Reflections by Ms. Patti Davis
• Reflections by Ronald Prescott Reagan
• Amazing Grace, sung by the Santa Susana High School Choir
• Recessional with bagpipe played by Piper Major Bill Boetticher
• God Bless America

Nancy, who told close friends she believed in an afterlife and longed to be reunited with her husband, will be buried right beside the former president on the library’s grounds.

As Davis said Thursday, “I’m happy for her that she’s with my father now.”

Her program speaks to her poise and class. What a tribute to the country she served, and loved, to end with “God Bless America!”

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