Carrying the casket

As the nation gathers to witness Ronald Reagan's funeral today, a Fox Valley native will be in Washington doing his part to help honor the former president.

Todd Fox, a member of the United States Marine Corps Body Bearers, will help carry Reagan's casket into and out of Washington National Cathedral for the state funeral.

The 1995 Crystal Lake Central High School graduate says he barely remembers Reagan's days in office.

Still, the 27-year-old says, he takes enormous pride in the part he will play in honoring the life of one of our presidents.

"I think it's a great honor," Fox said. "I just remember him briefly as a child. But to participate in the funeral of a president - that doesn't happen often."

Fox's parents, Sharon and John Fox, formerly of Crystal Lake and now of Elgin, say they've told everyone they know to look for their son on television as they watch Reagan's funeral today.

"We're very excited and think it's wonderful that he will be a part of this," Sharon Fox said. "We're very proud of him. He's worked hard and it's such an honor that he can do this."

Fox joined the Marines two years ago.

It was during basic training that he was picked to become a member of what the Marine Corps calls "The World Famous Body Bearers."

The body bearers conduct funerals, mainly at Arlington National Cemetery, for Marines and retired Marines, as well as for members of Congress, heads of state and presidents.

With gloved hands, six of the 16-member Body Bearer unit carry the caskets, which Fox says can weigh up to 700 pounds, to the funeral site. Throughout the service they hold the American flag completely still above the casket before ceremoniously folding it.

Before lowering their comrades into the ground, the body bearers lift the casket above their heads, holding it there for 30 seconds.

The Marines are the only branch of the military to honor the dead in such a way. Because of that practice, Fox says, the motto of the Marine Corps Body Bearers is "The Last To Let You Down."

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Fox says, however, that tradition will not be a part of the Reagan ceremony because members of all branches of the military will be flanking the casket, not just the Marines.

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Because of the strength required for the job, the body bearers are selected partially because of their appearance. Most are around 6 feet tall and weigh about 230 pounds.

"You have to have the look, kind of the all-American look," Fox said.

To qualify for the job, Fox had to pass an initial strength test: bench pressing 225 pounds 10 times; doing a military bench press - lifting a bar while seated with 135 pounds of weights behind his head - 10 times; doing a straight bar curl of 115 pounds 10 times and squatting 315 pounds 10 times.

Once he passed the strength test, he went to four months of ceremonial drill school training before he could start participating in funerals.

Since that time he has helped conduct the funerals of hundreds of fallen Marines, many of whom died in Iraq.

Until now, the most high profile funeral he participated in was that of U.S. Navy Admiral Thomas Moorer, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Reagan's funeral, he says, is what he's trained for throughout his time with the body bearers.

"This is the true honor," he said.

For those watching for Fox, he says he should be on the left side of the television screen, since he'll be on the front right side of the casket.

Carry: Marine had to pass strength tests