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SIMI VALLEY, Calif. - They came by the thousands all through the night, into the morning and late into the next night.
Undeterred by long lines and crowded buses, more than 80,000 Americans - veterans and children, moms and grandfathers, Republicans and Democrats - waited hours just to shuffle past former President Ronald Reagan's casket.
The public response was so overwhelming that officials at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library extended the viewing period by four hours.
Whether you liked Reagan or not, testament to his legacy could be found in the long lines of mourners to pay their final respects.
Veterans said they wanted to show their respect for a commander-in-chief who helped rebuild the military.
"He improved our (military) environment for eight years," David Terrell, 58, said after spending more than three hours in line.
Republicans said they wanted to show appreciation for Reagan's family values and conservative views.
"He was the greatest president of our lifetime, if not ever," said Michael Williams, 39.
Others said regardless of Reagan's politics, his life and passing were important historical markers.
"When are you going to see something like this again?" asked Brandon Crownover, who stood in line 31/2 hours with wife Sarah and 11-year-old twins Maddy and Vickie. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Head bowed, eyes closed and hands clasped in front, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry stood for about a minute to pay his respects. Kerry, a Roman Catholic, made the sign of the cross and quietly recited the accompanying prayer before departing.
Morgan Fairchild, Bruce Boxleitner and Bo Derek were among the celebrities who paid their respects.
The viewing led to traffic jams the community has never seen. At some points, traffic moved on local highways about 1 mph. It took some visitors four hours to drive the final 4 miles to the local college parking lot where shuttle buses departed. At the college, where mourners began to camp out as soon as arrangements were announced, some waited 41/2 hours to board a bus.
- Information from Cox News Service and the Associated Press was used in this report.