Charlton Heston made his last appearance as president of the National Rifle Association on Saturday, shuffling onto the stage in Orlando, Fla., before a crowd of 4,000 NRA members but too feeble to give a farewell speech.
The actor, diagnosed with symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, was strong enough to raise an 1866 Winchester rifle over his head and deliver his trademark line, "From my cold, dead hands."
He received a standing ovation but only spoke three more sentences at the annual NRA meeting Saturday.
"Thank you for everything, not only now but for all the years," Heston said. "It has been a wonderful run. I'm going to miss you."
Heston, 78, the public voice of the NRA for five years, was diagnosed last year with symptoms of Alzeheimer's, a neurological disease that can lead to dementia.