President Ford

I am not, have never been, and will never be a member of the Republican party.
I have not been a fan of most Republicans I have ever met, or heard of.
However, it seems that Gerald Ford was not such a bad guy. I'd even go so far as to say he was one of the good guys!

I did not have to work today, given the following presidential proclamation, our office was closed:

National Day of Mourning for President Gerald R. Ford
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

As a further mark of respect to the memory of Gerald R. Ford, the thirty-eighth President of the United States, NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, in honor and tribute to the memory of Gerald R. Ford, and as an expression of public sorrow, do appoint Tuesday, January 2, 2007, as a National Day of Mourning throughout the United States. I call on the American people to assemble on that day in their respective places of worship, there to pay homage to the memory of President Ford. I invite the people of the world who share our grief to join us in this solemn observance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty eighth day of December in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.

GEORGE W. BUSH

I found the followwing article on the BBC News website. I thought it was heartfelt and to the point.

Tributes paid at Ford's funeral

More than 3,000 people attended the service

US leaders past and present have paid tribute to the 38th US President, Gerald Ford, at his funeral service in Washington DC.

President George W Bush said the world had seen the best of America in Mr Ford, who brought calm and healing to the nation after the Watergate scandal.

Mr Ford became president after Richard Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal, and served from 1974 to 1977.

He died last week at 93, after becoming the longest-living US president.

After the funeral, the coffin was taken away for a private family ceremony and burial near Mr Ford's presidential library in his home town of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Tuesday has been designated as a national day of mourning.

Mr Ford died on 26 December in California. He lay in state in Washington's Capitol building from Saturday until Tuesday morning.

'Integrity'

A 21-gun salute rang out and a military band played as Mr Ford's coffin was carried down the steps of the Capitol and driven off to the National Cathedral.

The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington says the streets were lined with people as his motorcade went past.

The coffin was escorted by Vice-President Dick Cheney, former defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and Mr Ford's running mate in his failed 1976 presidential campaign, ex-Senator Bob Dole.

President Bush arrived at the funeral arm-in-arm with Mr Ford's widow Betty, before reading a eulogy.

"In President Ford, the world saw the best of America and America found a man whose character and leadership would bring calm and healing to one of the most divisive moments in our nation's history," he said.

George Bush Senior - President Bush's father - spoke of a life indelibly marked by honour and integrity.

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said Gerald Ford restored confidence in American institutions and its purposes.

Jimmy Carter, who defeated Mr Ford in 1976, also attended the service.

Mr Ford took office as public trust in the White House plummeted in the wake of the Watergate scandal and as the US eyed defeat in Vietnam.

Many mourners at the Capitol remembered his most difficult decision - pardoning Mr Nixon of any crimes committed during his presidency, a decision analysts say probably cost him the 1976 election.

John Banks from Georgia told the Associated Press: "I thought when he pardoned Nixon he stood up and did what the country needed, not what would further his political career."

This picture is of the flags at Fisherman's Wharf here in Monterey, flying at half-staff, in honor of President Ford: