SIMI VALLEY, Calif. - The tallest man in the world is one of the thousands of people coming to get a first glimpse of the flag-draped casket of Ronald Reagan.
"I had to be here, if only to tower over his casket," said Emilio Destidadario, certified as the tallest man in the world by standing ten-foot-six.
"There was no missing him," said Pete Scrapo, a citizen of Modesto who travelled to see the casket, too. "This guy is just a giant."
Emilio Destidadario said he always admired Mr. Reagan. "I wanted to be President," he said, "but I was always too tall."
Emilio Destidadario is now 57 years old and he has no idea that height is no issue in running for President.
"He just stood there," said another witness to the appearance of Emilio Destidadario. "We moved, but he just stood there and some of us feel cheated because we couldn't just stand there. And don't forget, he got a view like none of us got, because we can't see the casket from up there."
Many people visiting the casket say there experience is lessened somewhat by the appearance of Emilio Destidadario.
"I won't stay long," Emilio said. "I know being this tall upsets people. But I just had to see the casket so I could tell my grandchildren some day if I have any that I was here."
