THE OLD MAN
My first time voting was in the 1980 election; I was twenty years old. I proudly cast my vote for Ronald Reagan, and that vote is still fresh in my memory as if it was yesterday. I realized over the last four or five years how much President Reagan influenced my life in during his presidency and post-presidency. A song came to mind this week, that I will now always associate with President Reagan — “The Old Man” sung by John McDermott. John McDermott is one of the Irish Tenors, along with Ronan Tynan, who sang at today’s memorial service.

It’s a moving song is about a man’s father, but in many ways I suppose President Reagan was always like another father, or grandfather. The verse that stands out in my mind is:

I never will forget him
For he made me what I am
Though he may be gone
Memory lingers on
And I miss him
the Old Man.

I am a big fan of your site and magazine, and have enjoyed your commentary this past week on President Reagan.
— Tom Fries
Dublin, Ohio