By Jeff Wilson
The Associated Press

Patti Davis reaches out to her mother, Nancy Reagan, as the Rev. Michael Wenning, retired senior pastor at Bel Air Presbyterian Church, conducts a private service Monday near the casket of President Reagan. The Associated Press/RICK BOWMER

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. - Nancy Reagan touched her cheek to the flag-covered casket, then made way for Americans by the thousands to pay respects Monday to Ronald Reagan before a cross-country journey to a state funeral in Washington.

A steady, near-silent stream of people - some saluting, some praying - circled through the rotunda of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where the body of the nation's 40th president will lie in repose through today before traveling to Washington.

A Marine Corps band played "Hail to the Chief" as eight armed forces members carried the casket into the presidential library.

The journey began at a Santa Monica funeral home, where the mahogany casket was placed aboard a hearse for a 40-mile drive to the library in Simi Valley.

Clusters of people watched from overpasses and roadsides as the motorcade headed north, then west on the Ronald Reagan Freeway, its path cleared by motorcycle officers.

FUNERAL PLANS

Funeral events planned for former President Reagan Today • Body will lie in repose at the presidential library until 9 p.m. EDT. Wednesday • 11:30 a.m.: Reagan family motorcade departs presidential library en route to Naval Base Ventura County in Point Mugu. • 12:30 p.m.: Aircraft departs Point Mugu for Andrews Air Force Base, outside Washington. • 5 p.m.: Aircraft arrives at Andrews AFB. • 6 p.m.: Formal funeral procession to U.S. Capitol, with casket transfer onto horse-drawn caisson at 1600 Constitution Avenue, near the White House. • 7 p.m.: State funeral ceremony in Capitol Rotunda. • 8:30 p.m.: Lying in state begins in Capitol Rotunda and continues through the night. Thursday • All day: Lying in state for 24 hours in Capitol Rotunda. Friday • 10:45 a.m.: Motorcade departs U.S. Capitol. • 11:30 a.m.: National funeral service at Washington National Cathedral. • 1:45 p.m.: Motorcade departs National Cathedral. • 2:45 p.m.: Aircraft departs Andrews AFB. • 7:45 p.m.: Aircraft arrives at Point Mugu. • 9 p.m.: Motorcade arrives at presidential library. • 9:15 p.m.: Private interment service at presidential library. • 10:30 p.m.: Interment ceremony concludes.

When the service ended, Nancy Reagan walked to the casket, placing her left cheek against the flag's field of stars. Her daughter, Patti Davis, hugged her tightly and other family members placed hands on the casket.

Soon after the family departed, the first of many chartered buses arrived, bringing members of the public who had been waiting - in some cases for hours - for a chance to pay respects to Reagan, who died Saturday.

Mourners, including many children, stood quietly in line as they waited to enter the library, then moved rapidly past the casket flanked by an honor guard.

Mauchese Franklin, 31, from Laverne, said he had wanted to visit the library for years and was sad that his trip resulted from the former president's death.

"I couldn't wait to turn 18 to be able to vote," he said. "I can actually say he's the reason I am a registered Republican, even though everyone else in my family is a Democrat."

Nancy Reagan, 82, accompanied by Patti and son Ron, had paused on her way into the funeral home as she passed an impromptu display of remembrances. American flags, flowers and jelly beans - Reagan's favorite treat - were left along with notes, stuffed animals and candles.

She read some of the messages. "Thank you for changing the world," said one handwritten note.