A white, horse-drawn caisson will carry the body of former President Ronald Reagan through the streets of Washington on Wednesday in a cortege.
Joanne Drake, the ex-president's chief of staff, told reporters yesterday that the formal funeral procession would be one of many memorial events held over the next five days to say goodbye to the 40th president.
Following an hour-long private ceremony with family members this morning, Reagan's body will lie in repose from noon through Tuesday evening at the Main Lobby of the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California., Drake said. The body will be flown to Washington on Wednesday.
The caisson will accompany Reagan's body to the Rotunda of the US Capitol in the evening, where it will lie in state through Friday morning.
A funeral service is planned for Washington National Cathedral Friday at 11:30 a.m. (4.30 Irish time) with President George W. Bush and other world leaders in attendance. A private sunset burial at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, is planned for Friday evening, Drake said.
Reagan died at his Los Angeles home on Saturday at the age of 93 after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.