Today is my sixty-ninth birthday. As faithful readers of this blog know, I share a birthday with Ronald Wilson Reagan. I have long admired Reagan, the greatest President of my lifetime.  Reagan lived his life with courage and grace, two qualities amply demonstrated with his final public act, an open letter to the American people:
Nov. 5, 1994
My Fellow Americans,
I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans who will be afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Upon learning this news, Nancy and I had to decide whether as private citizens we would keep this a private matter or whether we would make this news known in a public way.
In the past Nancy suffered from breast cancer and I had my cancer surgeries. We found through our open disclosures we were able to raise public awareness. We were happy that as a result many more people underwent testing.
They were treated in early stages and able to return to normal, healthy lives.
So now, we feel it is important to share it with you. In opening our hearts, we hope this might promote greater awareness of this condition. Perhaps it will encourage a clearer understanding of the individuals and families who are affected by it.
At the moment I feel just fine. I intend to live the remainder of the years God gives me on this earth doing the things I have always done. I will continue to share life’s journey with my beloved Nancy and my family. I plan to enjoy the great outdoors and stay in touch with my friends and supporters.
Unfortunately, as Alzheimer’s Disease progresses, the family often bears a heavy burden. I only wish there was some way I could spare Nancy from this painful experience. When the time comes I am confident that with your help she will face it with faith and courage.
In closing let me thank you, the American people for giving me the great honor of allowing me to serve as your President. When the Lord calls me home, whenever that may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future.
I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.
Thank you, my friends. May God always bless you.
Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan
Happy 61st Donald McClarey ?
Have a great fun filled day today. Departure from the mines might be a good start!! As a caregiver for Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients please ask our gracious God to keep healthy our main contributor to TAC, and bless his special day.
Peace Don.
Happy Birthday Don!
Thank you RL and Philip. For some reason age 61 strikes me as an awkward age, but hopefully I can navigate it successfully as I did the preceding 60!
Have a great day, Don. I passed number 64 back on January 9 and I’m convinced that the only awkward age is whatever we happen to be at the moment. Thanks for posting the letter from Ronaldus Magnus. Perhaps someday another will achieve his level of greatness.
A very happy birthday to you, Don. And thank you so much
for your blog.
Happy Birthday!
Thank you Frank, Clinton and Dave! My Mother always said that after a certain age just being here made birthdays enjoyable!
A belated Happy Birthday Donald…and many more.
Argh! Due to TAC display problems on my Android phone (only this blog site – no others!), I can’t properly view and comment during the day. But now that I am on my home computer: Happy Birthday, Donald, and God bless you and your family!
Thank you Mary. I think God will keep me around until my work is completed. We shall see.
Happy birthday!
I miss him still. The Country misses him and they don’t even know it.
Happy Belated Birthday … to you and the Gipper.
Happy 69th birthday, Donald!
Happy Birthday, Donald, and thanks for all you do!
Happy 69th Birthday!
Happy Birthday Mr. McClarey!
Happy Birthday Donald, and many more to come!
Happy birthday Don! Keep fighting the good fight!
Adding my wishes for a happy birthday and the best of health. 🤠🇺🇸
Happy Birthday!
You keep posting, we’ll keep reading.
May St. Dorothy and St Thomas More bring you a good day today!
Only 69? Oh, you kid! Happy Burthday, btw.
Happy birthday, young man. From one Don to another, with 25 years between us.
No – I’m not younger – hitting 84 in May and still a long way from being struck out. 😆
Oops !! It’s only 15 years between us. Showing my age, but dementia isn’t setting in yet ……….I hope. 😉
After a certain age Don, the years don’t count, which is why I no longer have candles on my cake. That, and fire extinguishers can spoil the taste of the cake!
Happy birthday, Don.
Reading Reagan’s letter after my brother-in-law died from Alzheimer’s back in August at the age of 76 hits a little different now.
Mike spent more than half his life, almost 54 years to be exact, as a paraplegic, due to a car accident in November of 1971. He had just returned from Vietnam in the spring of that same year. Since he was still on active duty in the Air Force, he got a service connected medical retirement.Shortly before he and my sister married in 1973, got involved in Paralyzed Veterans of America. He became President of the Michigan chapter. He basically built that chapter although it existed already. He went on to serve as national president of PVA from 1980 to 1982.
Mike admired Reagan as well. However, I did come across a copy of a letter from the Reagan Library website Mike had written to Reagan sharply criticizing the Administration’s treatment of Veteran’s groups.https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/public/digitallibrary/smof/publicliaison/blackwell/box-045/40_047_7008683_045_007_2017.pdf
He did attend a White House Meeting on Veteran’s affairs with Reagan present. He didn’t think Reagan himself was all that well informed on the particular issues discussed. He said Liddy Dole handled that part.He said Reagan did go out of his way to put everyone at ease. I’m sure Reagan understood that meeting the president on official business can a man a bit nervous.
Below is a picture of Mike with Reagan in, I think, 1982.
Mike another twenty plus years working for PVA as a development officer. He had a knack for raising money because he actually developed relationships with donors.
He also served on the Board of Directors for Invacare at the same time John Kasich was on the board. He knew John well and got along with him well, as my sister did with his wife.
My wife and I have contributed to PVA for many years Greg. Your brother-in-law heroically made a life for himself and your sister when many who suffered such an injury would be tempted to give up on life. A life well lived.