Half-staff holiday honors Reagan

PROVO — Only two more days until flags return to full staff following 30 days of mourning for the passing of former President Ronald Reagan.

That means that July Fourth will be the last day that Americans symbolically pay their respects to a man who served them during eight history-making years.

The irony isn't lost on his son, Michael, who laughs when asked about the significance of his father making his final farewell on the anniversary of America's independence.

"My dad has always had impeccable timing," Michael Reagan told the Deseret Morning News in a telephone interview on Friday. "So it is something that will always be with us. This will always be a time to remember."

The radio talk show host said he takes comfort in seeing flags fly at half staff and has been amazed by the outpouring of love from Americans and international leaders since his father passed away June 5 at age 93.

"You know, we've been saying goodbye to my father for a long time when you think about the disease that he had," Reagan said, referring to his father's 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.

"It is, as they say, the 'long goodbye.' And that was the final week. That was the finale. And those people that came out — those hundreds of thousands of people that came out to say goodbye — gave us the strength to say our final goodbye to my father for a life well lived and a job well done."

Due to his father's passing, however, Michael Reagan had to postpone a hip replacement surgery. The delay forced him to miss a scheduled appearance at Friday's Freedom Festival awards gala, where the former president was posthumously presented with a Freedom Award for his political work.

Other recipients included Iwo Jima survivor Loyd Lewis, Korean War veteran Bill Baucom, Air Force Gen. Gregory S. Martin and Farouk Darweesh, Basma Fakri and Emad Dhia, who all are Iraqi-Americans involved in the reconstruction of Iraq.

Utah's Carmen Rasmusen, whose gained a following on last year's "American Idol," along with several other local singers, entertained the gala crowd.

Festival organizers said President Reagan was selected as an award recipient months ago. After his death, the decision seemed serendipitous, said festival director Carl Bacon.

"It is kind of eerie, but it's really appropriate," Bacon said. "What a genuine person he was. He was truly a great man."