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"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."

President Ronald Wilson Reagan
February 6, 1911 - June 5, 2004

As you know, we lost a great man this past week. President Reagan passed away on Saturday after a virulent battle with Alzheimers. Today we are welcoming President Ronald Reagan back to Washington for the last time. I am honored to have the chance to attend the ceremonies that will be held in his memory over the next few days, and in order to bring some of these sentiments in Washington, this weeks' newsletter is dedicated to the late President.

" Reagan Memorial Foundation
This site honors President Reagan's memory and also allows people to send their condolences on to Mrs. Nancy Reagan and the Reagan family.
http://www.ronaldreaganmemorial.com/.

" White House Biography of the 40th President
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/rr40.html.

" The Old Guard and Military Caisson
The Old Guard is the regiment that will lead President Reagan's flag draped casket down Constitution Avenue to be laid in State at the U.S. Capitol.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26325-2004Jun8.html.

" CNN's Reagan Memorial
This site includes extensive biographies, speech archives, and videos from some of speeches. A great website to give people an overview of the contributions President Reagan made to our country.
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/reagan/index.html.

" Ronald W. Reagan Memorial Library
http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/.

" Fox News Coverage of President's Arrival in Washington
Fox News offers several photo galleries, as well as a complete funeral schedule.
http://www.foxnews.com/.

" Remembering President Reagan in Illinois
An audio clip of National Public Radio's report from President Reagan's hometown of Dixon, Illinois.
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1940526.

" New Reagan Memorial Highway in Illinois
I am happy to announce that Gov. Rod Blagojevich issued an executive order on Tuesday renaming the portion of Interstate 88, "The Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway." I-88 stretches across the northern tier of Illinois and passes by Reagan's birthplace of Dixon. The Governor's Executive Order, naming the portion of I-88 from Sterling to the Quad-Cities for Reagan, takes effect immediately.

"We've done our part. And as I walk off into the city streets, a final word to the men and women of the Reagan revolution, the men and women across America who for 8 years did the work that brought America back. My friends: We did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. We made the city stronger, we made the city freer, and we left her in good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all.

And so, goodbye, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America."

President Ronald Wilson Reagan
Farewell Address
White House, Washington
January 11, 1989

Thank you for the interest in my newsletter! Remember to tell your friends about it as well--they can sign up on my web page at <http://www.house.gov/shimkus>.

Sincerely,

Congressman John Shimkus

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