The willingness of some to give their lives so that others might live never fails to evoke in us a sense of wonder and mystery.
~President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan was a childhood hero of mine. In 1984, at age thirteen, I wrote to him and asked if he would honor my grandfather, a World War II veteran, in some way. He was retiring from his career as an employee of the state of Colorado and I wanted to do something special for him.
A few days prior to his retirement celebration, a large envelope arrived in the mail. Inside was a beautiful typed letter, signed by President Reagan, congratulating my grandfather on his years of service to the State of Colorado and our country.
A short time later, a smaller, handwritten note arrived from the President, simply thanking me for taking the time to write him and for being a faithful patriot. I later learned that President Reagan was famous for personally answering some of his mail, and I was lucky enough to be included in that category.
Later that year, my grandfather and I received an invitation to attend Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration. Regrettably, we had to decline the invitation because we couldn’t afford the plane tickets.
Years later, Washington, D.C. prepared to dedicate the World War II Memorial on the Mall, between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. They asked veterans to join the celebration. On May 29, 2004, my family escorted my grandfather on the most amazing trip to our nation’s capital, where he, along with thousands of other veterans, was honored for his service.
By this time, I had started a military support organization that served veterans and their families, so to be around this gathering was especially humbling as veterans from every war and every branch of service descended on the District of Columbia to mark the occasion. There were more than 140,000 people there that day.
My grandfather and I shared a special moment outside the gates of the White House, reminiscing about the 1984 invitation from President Reagan that we were unable to accept.
On June 5th, President Ronald Reagan passed away, and my heart was crushed.
Two years later, President George W. Bush invited me and several other founders of military support organizations, including actor Gary Sinise, to visit him and discuss our work with military veterans and their families. It was an invitation I wasn’t about to turn down again!
I remember sitting across from the President of the United States as he addressed each of us. A young boy’s dream had finally come true, yet it seemed surreal.
Shortly after having our pictures taken with the President and participating in a brief press conference, we were escorted to the main section of the White House for a private tour.
I soaked up every color, every artifact, and every word I could retain. After all, very few people get an invitation to meet with a President, let alone are given a private tour of the White House.
As I entered the East Room, where I knew many grand historical receptions had taken place, I thought to myself, Well, President Reagan, here I am! I’m twenty-two years late, but I was finally able to accept your invitation. The only thing that would have made this moment perfect is if you were here right now.
After taking a final look, I slowly exited the East Room, my mind still processing everything I had seen and learned about the magnificent history of the People’s House. And just as I turned the corner to go into a hallway, there before me was a life-size portrait of our 40th President, Ronald Wilson Reagan, seemingly looking down upon me with his ever-famous smile.
I felt like I was meeting my hero face to face! Granted, it wasn’t the same as meeting the man himself, but it was the next best thing!
Not only had I met the current President of the United States and walked in the footsteps of history, but I had a divine encounter with my childhood hero, all in one day.
I had to call my grandfather and tell him about the experience. He cried on the phone as he said, “I’m glad you got to fulfill your dream. I wish I could have been with you.”
And that’s my kind of America, where a young boy can dream the impossible and have it come true.
~Leo Pacheco
