Mourners pay respects to Ford at Capitol

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Mourners gathered Sunday at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, some as early as 5 a.m., to pay their respects to former President Gerald Ford.

Ford's memorial drew a crowd of those who remember him in office, as well as younger people in their 20s and 30s who read about the nation's 38th president in history books, the Washington Post reported.

Some Ford admirers cut their vacations short to make a detour to Washington. Calvin Brown, 37, of Virginia, said he cut his Virginia Beach vacation short and awoke at 3:30 a.m. to drive to the Capitol.

"Majestic is the best description for me," he said. "This is a man who stood for matters of courage, regardless of political causes."

The crowds appeared smaller than those who came to pay their respects to former President Ronald Regan, who died in June 2004, the Post reported. Authorities attribute the smaller crowds to the time of year and the holidays.

Ford, who died in California Tuesday at 93, will be buried in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich., Wednesday.