President Gerald Ford, RIP

by **Sonny** on Tue Dec 26, 2006 11:57 pm

Breaking news.....

**Sponsor**

by **Gvlax** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 12:35 am

93 years old... A long life. RIP

by **Madlax16** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 1:02 am

well thats a bummer...

by **laxfan25** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:43 am

That'll be big news here in Grand Rapids, his hometown and home of the Gerald R. Ford Museum. They had a big birthday party for him a couple years ago, and my son had the privilege of being in his Boy Scout Honor Guard, shaking his hand and sitting on stage with him. A proud moment.
President Ford was a truly decent man who helped guide the country through a challenging period after Nixon's impeachment. He never sought the office - it found him - and he did his job well.
Condolences to his wife Betty and their family.

by **Andy Sharp** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 4:22 pm

I stopped by the Ford Museum to sign the memorial guestbook. Was interested to find out they had already built the location where he'd be buried, it's a simple sloped rainbow shaped concrete arch to the north of the museum. Workers were powerwashing it in preparation. While NPR stated at the top of the news that the museum would be open 24hrs, it's actually only the 20x20 lobby where the guestbook is located, the actual museum was closed.

by **Andy Sharp** on Tue Jan 02, 2007 4:06 pm

The final homecoming has begun, the president's motorcade is making his way towards downtown, a great show of respect from the area.

by **Zeuslax** on Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:35 pm

Andy Wrote:

The final homecoming has begun, the president's motorcade is making his way towards downtown, a great show of respect from the area.

Everything in that town is Gerald R Ford airport, street, building, grassy knoll, or something.........Didn't he technically reside in East Grand Rapids which is its own city? I know he grew up on the east side of Grand Rapids as I've seen the placard for his boyhood home, and then they "got out"?

by **laxfan25** on Wed Jan 03, 2007 8:07 pm

Zeuslax wrote:Andy Wrote:
The final homecoming has begun, the president's motorcade is making his way towards downtown, a great show of respect from the area.

Everything in that town is Gerald R Ford airport, street, building, grassy knoll, or something.........Didn't he technically reside in East Grand Rapids which is its own city? I know he grew up on the east side of Grand Rapids as I've seen the placard for his boyhood home, and then they "got out"?

Actually, there is the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Gerald R. Ford Freeway and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. There are a lot more buildings in town with DeVos and VanAndel's names on them.
Ford was born in Omaha and moved to GR at an early age. His family lived on Union SE ( a few blocks from where I used to live), and later he also lived on Sherman St SE in a house now owned by a friend. As Congressman he lived in East Grand Rapids, which is why they try to claim him as "their own". John Collins, former mayor of EGR (who has a park across the street from the stadium where the CCLA championships have been held the last two years) made his claim to fame by leading the opposition to the attempt by the City of Grand Rapids to annex EGR.
There is your history lesson for today!
I just returned from the interrment (sp?) ceremony downtown. (Actually observing from a distance, since it was private). A 21 cannon salute followed by a flyover by 21 F-15's in a very touching final tribute to a great and humble man. 10's of thousands turned out yesterday to pay their final respects - some people waited in line for over 8 hours. He was obviously very well thought of by the citizens he served.
Donald Rumsfeld and Jimmy Carter gave very good speeches at the funeral service this afternoon. I was surprised to learn that the Carters and Fords became especially close in life - good buddies sharing some common history with tons of respect for each other.
Rest in Peace, President Ford.