By Xochitl Peña The Desert Sun
June 30, 2004

PALM DESERT -- It may seem morbid to plan your own funeral, but that is exactly what U. S. presidents do, sometimes soon after taking office.

At 90, G

At 90, Gerald Ford, the oldest living former president, has plans for a memorial service at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert said the Rev. Daniel Rondeauwith the church.

"For each of the former presidents, there's a contingency plan. If he dies here in the desert this would be the place where the service is," he said.

Ford has called Rancho Mirage home since 1977, soon after he left office.

With few churches in Rancho Mirage, he attends St. Margaret's in neighboring Palm Desert.

Rondeau said the service would consist primarily of readings, prayers and hymns and would be private, as was Ronald Reagan's.

He assumes however, there would be an opportunity during which the public could visit.

Penny Circle, a Ford aide, could not be reached for comment.

Sheila Gilligan,the assistant city manager with Palm Desert, said military officials have been keeping in contact with city officials at least once a year, sometimes twice, to discuss logistics involved in holding a presidential memorial service.

"This city holds President Ford in the highest regard," she said. "We're going to step up to the plate and do everything we need to do."

Tom Freeman,the Riverside County Sheriff's Department executive officer, said the sheriff's department was involved in the update of President Ford's funeral plan which occurred within the last year.

The department would provide support to the Secret Service and the Ford family in areas like motorcade escorts, traffic control and blocking intersections.

Freeman said it would be a valley-wide law enforcement effort because the motorcade would pass through multiple jurisdictions.

Other agencies likely to be involved include the California Highway Patrol, Palm Springs Police Department and federal security at the Palm Springs International Airport.

Rondeau said he expects Ford's funeral to be as elaborate and detailed as was Reagan's.

According to a Newsweek article, Reagan began plans for his funeral in 1981 and finalized them in 1989, with updates annually.

Ford's body, as was Reagan's, would be taken to the Washington National Cathedral for a ceremony.

"He'll have a very similar ceremony to President Reagan's," said Elizabeth Hargrove,spokeswoman for Washington National Cathedral where Reagan had his funeral June 11.

She said it will include tributes, music and flowers.

The Newsweek article also said Ford will be buried in Grand Rapids, Mich., on his museum grounds.

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