ST. THOMAS — Consistent with the Presidential Proclamation with respect to the flag of the United States, Governor Kenneth Mapp has ordered that Virgin Islands flags be lowered to half-staff as a show of respect for former First Lady Nancy Reagan, who died Sunday. Above, President Barack Obama escorts Mrs. Reagan in the Diplomatic Room of the White House June 2, 2009, for the announcement and signing of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act — commemorating the late President’s 100th Birthday in 2011.
The flags of the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands are displayed at federal and local government buildings and facilities throughout the territory.
The President’s Proclamation and Governor’s Order require the half-staff flag display until sunset on the day of Mrs. Reagan’s interment.
According to Wikipedia, Mrs. Reagan, (born Anne Frances Robbins; July 6, 1921 – March 6, 2016) was an American actress and the wife of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. She was the First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989.
Mrs. Reagan was born in New York City. After her parents separated, she lived in Maryland with an aunt and uncle for some years. She moved to Chicago when her mother remarried and she took the name Davis from her stepfather. As Nancy Davis, she was a Hollywood actress in the 1940s and 1950s, starring in films such as The Next Voice You Hear…, Night into Morning, and Donovan’s Brain. In 1952, she married Ronald Reagan who was then president of the Screen Actors Guild. They had two children together. Reagan was the First Lady of California when her husband was Governor from 1967 to 1975 and she began to work with the Foster Grandparents Program
Mrs. Reagan became First Lady of the United States in January 1981, following her husband’s victory in the 1980 presidential election. She was criticized early in his first term largely due to her decision to replace the White House china, despite its being paid for by private donations. She aimed to restore a Kennedy-esque glamour to the White House following years of lax formality, and her interest in high-end fashion garnered much attention as well as criticism. She championed recreational drug prevention causes by founding the “Just Say No” drug awareness campaign, which was considered her major initiative as First Lady. More controversy ensued when it was revealed in 1988 that she had consulted an astrologer to assist in planning the president’s schedule after the attempted assassination of her husband in 1981. She had a strong influence on her husband and played a role in a few of his personnel and diplomatic decisions.
Tags: first lady, nancy reagan
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