 President Reagan, who did not attend either the launch or the commissioning due to Alzheimer's disease, died 11 months later.At the end of the graveside services, the ship's commanding officer at that time, Captain James Symonds, presented the flag that draped the former president's casket to Mrs. Reagan at her request.This was also the flag that had flown over Capitol Hill on 20 January 1981, when the president was inaugurated.