4,000 people, including world leaders past and present, are expected at Washington's National Cathedral today (Friday) for the national memorial service to honor former President Ronald Reagan.
The service will feature a reading by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to sit on the nation's highest court.
President Bush will give a eulogy, as will his father, former President George Herbert Walker Bush. Other tributes will come from former Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher of Britain and Brian Mulroney of Canada.
At the end of the service, the cathedral's Bourdon Bell will toll 40 times, representing Mr. Reagan's place as the nation's 40th president.
Mr. Reagan's remains then will be flown back to California for a private burial ceremony at the Reagan Library near Los Angeles.
Nearly 200,000 people filed past Mr. Reagan's casket in California and Washington this week to pay final respects to the late president, who died last Saturday at age 93.