WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- An emotional Nancy Reagan helped unveil a statue of her late husband , President Reagan , on Wednesday , calling the 7-foot figure `` a wonderful likeness . '' Nancy Reagan , with House Minority Leader John Boehner , wipes away tears at Wednesday 's event . `` I know Ronnie would be deeply honored to see himself with a permanent home in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol and very proud to be representing his beloved California , '' Nancy Reagan said . She appeared to battle emotions as she mentioned her last visit to the marbled hall for Reagan 's memorial in June 2004 . `` It 's nice to be back under happier circumstances , '' she said . Watch Nancy Reagan unveil the statue » . The statue is one of two from California in the National Statuary Hall Collection donated by states to honor significant figures . Nancy Reagan stood arm-in-arm with House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio to pull down the curtain from the statue . She thanked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California for making the event possible . In her remarks , Pelosi noted that the former president 's statue contains pieces of the Berlin Wall , `` as a symbol of his commitment to national security and to his success . '' The wall was torn down shortly after Reagan left office . `` I 'm so grateful to Californians for giving him this honor , '' Nancy Reagan said . `` Artist Chas Fagan has captured his likeness so well , and I think the addition of the pieces of the Berlin Wall in the pedestal reflects my husband 's commitment to freedom and democracy for everyone . '' The former president is credited with polices that led to the break-up of the former Soviet Union and the dismantling of the wall that divided Berlin as a symbol of Cold War politics . James Baker , a longtime Republican who served in the Cabinets of Reagan and President George H.W . Bush , recalled that Reagan inherited some major problems when he took office in 1981 . Citing the former president 's trademark optimism , he quoted from Reagan 's first inaugural address that `` we are not , as some would have us believe , doomed to an inevitable decline . '' Nancy Reagan attended a White House ceremony Tuesday marking Barack Obama 's signing of legislation authorizing a Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission . The 11-member commission will plan activities marking Reagan 's 100th birthday on February 6 , 2011 . Reagan was president from 1981 to 1989 .
NEW : Former 100th lady touts husband 's `` commitment to freedom '' California donated figure for Pelosi to honor former president . Capitol Rotunda says statue contains pieces of Berlin Wall . Commission planning events to mark first birthday in June 2004 .