Tributes suggested for Reagan
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|  VIDEO |
 Ronald Reagan's casket is carried into National Cathedral.
 Nancy Reagan says farewell at the Capitol.
 A panel debates Reagan's legacy as president.
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(CNN) -- CNN.com asked its users to reflect on the death of Ronald Reagan and share their memories of the former president. Thousands of e-mails were received from around the world.
Here is a sampling of responses, some of which have been edited. Send in your thoughts.
Bob Gilman from Franklin Park, Illinois:
The best way to honor President Reagan is to name a Cold War victory medal after him. Millions of Americans fought this battle with little or no recognition. I am sure they would wear this medal proudly.
Linda Haygood from Chehalis, Washington:
President Ronald Reagan was our beloved 40th president and leader, a man who forever changed the landscape of this world. May his contributions be immortalized through the commissioning of a $40 bill, with his image of kind strength on the front and his legacy of orator on the back. Let the bill be known as the "Gipper."
Barbara Hayner from Cody, Wyoming:
President Reagan has enough things named after him. Let the history books do their part now. We have many great Americans, many without names.
John Gustafson from Rockford, Illinois:
A lasting tribute to Ronald Reagan would be the planting of a grove of California redwoods -- a monument more lasting than monetary portraits or man-made structures. The redwoods would symbolize the need for a rejuvenated faith in American patriotism.
Heather Gasser from Malvern, Pennsylvania:
I think that instead of putting Ronald Reagan on a $10 bill, the country should focus on Alzheimer's disease and raising research dollars. This great man (and so many others) was robbed of his life and memories because of this disease; we should all focus on finding a cure.
Colleen Regan from Southampton, Massachusetts:
The loss of the Challenger and crew made a huge impact on me and my family. We felt President Reagan gave us the strength to continue our support of our space program and not let that tragedy deter us.
Scheifert Shigwedha from Windhoek, Namibia:
As I was growing up, my country Namibia had no president, hence I thought the only president on Earth was Ronald Reagan, but as I matured I realized that being a president is a political process and that no one is born a president. Ronald Reagan is a name that will remain a ringing bell very deep in my heart, just as it was during my childhood.
F.W. Davis from Washington, D.C.:
I was a young mother of two when Reagan's tax cuts took effect, and I got the largest tax refund of my life. Soon after, my law firm employer froze salaries for nearly two years as Reaganomics damaged the economy and the morale of all but the wealthiest and the military. There was nothing progressive about his inhumane, trickle-down economics, which is nothing more than a colonial landed-gentry entitlement culture dressed up in a pinstripe suit.
Felix R. Perera from Colombo, Sri Lanka:
I was still in high school when I taped President Reagan's inauguration speech on my father's old Grundig tape recorder and played it over and over. His words captivated me. He was "humbled," he said, and "promised" to make America strong again. I will always perceive him as a leader of leaders.
Jeff Miller from Cranston, Rhode Island:
Reagan inspired a decade of artists and musicians to organize with one voice and oppose him and his conservative viewpoints. His attitude toward social programs was appalling. I thank him for a generation of great music. Punk rock would never have flourished without him.
Robert Barker from Clare, Michigan:
My memory of Reagan is that during his administration the AIDS outbreak began and he refused to do anything about it due to his homophobia. It is tragic that he didn't follow the example of the founder of his Christian faith, Jesus Christ, toward the outcasts of our society.
Kevin G. Stewart from Houston, Texas:
I remember back to Reagan's inauguration in 1980. I was 12 years old, and my uncle had written speeches for Reagan's campaign. As it was my birthday that January, my uncle invited me to Washington for the ceremonies. Unfortunately, as my uncle pointed out, Mr. Reagan did not have time to see me in person. But the day before the ceremony, there he was walking down the street with a bunch of men in suits and sunglasses. "President Reagan," I screamed. As I ran to him, my uncle and one of the men in sunglasses said "stop" simultaneously. But I must have caught Reagan's eye at that moment. He smiled one of the warmest smiles I have ever received and extended his hand. "And what's your name?" the president asked. "Kevin," I replied. "I would have voted for you if I was old enough," I went on to tell him. He chuckled and said, "Well, that's probably the best vote I never got." I loved that man then and there and probably always will.
Nancy Buxbaum from Arlington Heights, Illinois:
My sophomore year at American University in Washington, D.C., I had the unique opportunity to be one of six students invited to hear then-Gov. Reagan speak to the National Press Club. Gov. Reagan recognized us, had us sit in the front and directed comments to us in his wishes for the future generations. I was amazed at the time at his graciousness. He blanched a little when I told him I was a volunteer in the office of Rep. Ron Dellums of Oakland, California. Their politics were canyons apart. But he was gracious nonetheless.
John Higdon from Detroit, Michigan:
I only voted once in my life, and that was in 1980 for President Reagan. I had served three years from 1977 to 1980 in the Army and seen how our military was being eroded by President Carter. I was extremely impressed by President Reagan and wanted a change from President Carter. In 1980, I re-enlisted in the Army and served 20 years to retirement.
David E. Scott from Decatur, Alabama:
I came home from Vietnam in 1971 disgruntled with the whole political process we had in this country. ... I wouldn't go vote or take any part in the process. Born into a "Yellow Dog" Southern Democrat family, it was unheard of to vote Republican ... until Ronald Reagan. The pride this man had in this country renewed my faith in this country and changed my views on politics. It's not perfect, but it's ours. ... So many have died to protect the life we take for granted.
Joe Ossining from New York:
I'll never forget when, in response to the widening anti-war protests in 1970, Gov. Reagan of California said if it takes a blood bath to put an end to these, we should get it over with. The Kent State killings happened a short time later. May Reagan's soul, and those of the hundreds of thousands of Central Americans who died because of his policies, all rest in peace. Together. Forever.
Werner Schmitt from Saffig, Germany:
I shall never forget seeing President Reagan standing in front of the Brandenburg Gate and uttering the famous sentence, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" How realistic he was. I did not realize [it] at that time, as most Germans did not. Germany and the former Communist countries owe him that they are free and not threatened by war after so many years of fear. I shall always remember him as one of our greatest friends.
Roger Olivier from Hollywood, Florida:
I am from Nicaragua, and I am very thankful to Mr. Ronald Reagan for what he did to save us, Nicaraguans, from communism. If not for him, we could have been the second Cuba on the American continent, and only God knows how many more countries. God bless him for all that he did in the name of freedom. Thank you, Ronald.
Dana Deac from Bucharest, Romania:
I owe my life and my freedom to Mr. Ronald Reagan. I am from Romania, and before 1989 I grew up listening to Voice of America. I admired Mr. Ronald Reagan. He was my hero. Now he is my son's hero. He won the crucial battle against communism. In his memory, we Romanians must win the war against communism. I want to say, "Thank you, sir," instead of farewell.
Robert Graham from Newport Beach, California:
In the early 1990s, my brother was the backup quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. The Browns' equipment manager's brother was the assistant press secretary for President Reagan. They were able to set up a family meeting in President Reagan's Westwood office. My brother brought a football signed by most of the Browns, which he presented to Mr. Reagan. We had a great visit, mostly talking about the Browns. ... We actually threw the football in his office for almost an hour as we talked. The funny thing about the meeting was that the next visitor, who seemed to have to wait some time in the lobby, was President Ford. The next day on the front page of the Los Angeles Times was a picture of President Reagan with President Ford and on the coffee table in the middle of the office was the football.
Jennifer Custer from Tipp City, Ohio:
In third grade, our school participated in a kids' vote. I will never forget how "big" I felt walking into our tiny booths and pulling the handle for Ronald Reagan. I remember voting for him solely because I loved jellybeans and he did, too.
Lt. Col. Shawn D. Allen from Tikrit, Iraq
I was a teenage construction worker at the time when newly elected President Reagan said in a speech that in America, you can do whatever you want, you can live your dream. Today I am a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. That speech always stayed with me, from then to now. Leaders like Ronald Reagan have that gift to inspire, to be the catalyst for change.
Paul Ortiz from Santa Cruz, California
I was a soldier in the U.S. Army during Reagan's presidency. I was stationed in Central America from 1984-86. The people of that region are still trying to recover from the destruction that Reagan's policies helped unleash. In essence, Reagan supported the people who organized the death squads. The mass graves of Central America are part of the Reagan legacy. Back home, Reagan helped promote distrust between black and white, rich and poor as well as gay and straight. He leaves behind a very sad legacy.
