by Kate E. MacLean

An army private raised in Somerville served in the funeral ceremonies for former president Ronald W. Reagan June 7-11.

“This was my first major event, as far as funerals go. We were working twenty-hour shifts, practicing to make sure that we didn’t get it wrong,” said Pfc. Justin R. Ryan, 18.

Ryan is part of the Military District of Washington Engineer Company based out of Fort Belvoir, Va. Close proximity to Washington, D.C., Ryan said, allows the company to lend support to the government for events like state funerals, for which they are specially trained.

Reagan’s death on June 5 set in motion a plan involving countless military members from all of the armed forces, according to an American Forces statement.

“Our company does a lot of preparation for funeral detail for past and present presidents. We make sure all the details are set, from marching all the soldiers in, to having all streets closed down and directing traffic,” the young soldier said.

“We found out on that Saturday, and Sunday we went in and put everything together visually. By Monday, we were practicing from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m. on Tuesday,” Ryan said.

During the funeral Ryan was stationed near the end of the procession to help the police hold off traffic and keep buses parked in line. “I gathered up soldiers as they came into the dispersal area and marched them down,” he said.

When a former commander-in-chief dies, the president directs the secretary of defense to oversee funeral arrangements. This responsibility is delegated through the secretary of the Army to the commanding general for the U.S. Army’s Military District of Washington (MDW).

The MDW, currently led by Army Maj. Gen. Galen B. Jackman, coordinated arrangements for the events leading up to Reagan’s official state funeral June 11.

Ryan said that though he doesn’t remember Reagan’s presidency well, he has heard that he was a good person.

“My mom liked him a lot. Both my mom and dad said he was a good president, but I wasn’t old enough to really have an idea of that. I was there to do my job,” he said.

The company was called in June 11 to stand by at the Naval Observatory. “There were a lot of protestors, anti-Army, shouting bad things about us and saying that 9-11 was a good thing,” Ryan said.

Ryan said that his company has been trained in riot control, in preparation for air shows like the Blue Angels that are held at Andrews Air Force base.

“We had only one incident at the air show, so we didn’t have much experience with aggravated rioters. We couldn’t really do much but stand there,” he said.

“We are continuing to practice for state funerals, in case of more presidents that may come soon. Now we have a better grasp on what to do if it happens,” said Ryan.

Members of his company are trained to understand rope systems, hauling systems, and the construction of structural supports, called internal and external shoring, he said.

Some, including Ryan, are trained as emergency medical technicians (EMT) and combat lifesavers. Combat lifesaver training is a military course taught along with the civilian EMT course. “I wasn’t with the company yet, but it was my company that was at the Pentagon on 9-11, pulling victims out,” he said.

Ryan and others from his company also attended a three-month program at the Colorado School of Mines for methods for rescuing miners.

“That was fun because we had to become new miners. You have to know how to be a coal miner in order to go into the mine,” Ryan said. Growing up in Somerville, he had never seen a miner before.

Ryan said a family friend helped him through the process of applying to the Army after he earned his G.E.D. “He got my interest jumped up a little. I always had an interest for the military. I saw it as a way to better my schooling and as a kick-off for my life,” said Ryan.

After signing up for a three-year Army stint in January 2003, Ryan began as a combat demolition and landmine engineer based in Ft. Leonardwood, Mo.

Ryan said he is considering a career in public safety. His current position as a technician rescue engineer has already led to job offers to work as a firefighter in Colorado or the Washington, D.C. area, or as an EMT in Brockton.

“I’m hoping to work SWAT, which is hard, but that is one thing I’ve always wanted to do. Regardless, I am still planning on going back to school,” he said.

Ryan’s mother, Linda Ryan, said her son initially considered staying in the Army an additional four years so the Army could put him through college.

“He’ll be 19 in August. He’s really taking advantage of it now, taking college courses, and learning all kinds of skills,” she said.

“I thought he would be coming back, but now he’s mentioning jobs in Virginia and Colorado,” she said.
Ryan said that he wants to take some time to explore the options that his career in the military has opened for him.

“I want to do some traveling, look at different places in the country and see what I’d feel most comfortable in,”