My first overtly political act came back when I was four or five years old. I wrote the President and First Lady asking them, as the son of an officer serving in Vietnam, to continue to support the work he was doing there.

Some weeks later, I got a letter back from the White House, from some aide whose name I don't recall, thanking me for writing. But then, several days later, I got a second letter -- this one signed by the First Lady (well, probably by an auto-pen -- but at that age you don't know such things). I was impressed, as a little boy would be, by the attention by one so important, and developed a fondness for that First Lady.

She died yesterday, some four decades later, at the age of 94. And I truly feel a loss.

Lady Bird Johnson, the former first lady who championed conservation and worked tenaciously for the political career of her husband, Lyndon B. Johnson, died Wednesday, a family spokeswoman said. She was 94.

Johnson, who suffered a stroke in 2002 that affected her ability to speak, returned home late last month after a week at Seton Medical Center, where she'd been admitted for a low-grade fever.

She died at her Austin home of natural causes and she was surrounded by family and friends, said spokeswoman Elizabeth Christian.

Even after the stroke, Johnson still managed to make occasional public appearances and get outdoors to enjoy her beloved wildflowers. But she was unable to speak more than a few short phrases, and more recently did not speak at all, Anne Wheeler, spokeswoman for the LBJ Library and Museum, said in 2006. She communicated her thoughts and needs by writing, Wheeler said.

For those who, like me, are in a position to honor Lady Bird Johnson by making the trip to Austin as she lies in repose, here is the schedule.

Friday, July 13

• Morning: Private family Eucharist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin. Invitation only.

• 1:15 p.m.: The public is invited to pay its final respects to Lady Bird Johnson as she lies in repose at the LBJ Library and Museum, 2313 Red River, Austin. Johnson will remain in repose throughout the night and visitation will end at 11 a.m. the following morning.

Saturday, July 14

• Private funeral: By invitation only at Riverbend Centre, Austin.

Sunday, July 15

• Ceremonial route: The public is invited to line the route of a ceremonial cortege that will pass through Austin and carry Johnson on to her burial place in Stonewall at the Johnson family cemetery. The public route will begin at the State Capitol at approximately 9 a.m. and will proceed south on Congress to Cesar Chavez. It will go right on Cesar Chavez and head west on the shores of Town Lake. It will turn and go west on 290 toward Johnson City, where it will ultimately motor through downtown Johnson City, past President Johnson's boyhood home and past the LBJ National Park Visitors Center. The public aspect of the cortege will end in Johnson City.

• Afternoon: Private family services at the graveside at the Johnson family cemetery in Stonewall. Invitation only.

May she rest in peace, and may her family and friends be comforted in this time of loss.

Posted by: Greg at 11:02 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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