HYANNIS PORT, Mass. -- From one end of Massachusetts to another, Bay Staters fondly recalled the man who represented them in the Senate for close to 50 years on Wednesday, remembering Sen. Edward M. Kennedy as a "regular guy" who, despite his political power and illustrious lineage, often treated his constituents as friends.

Kennedy, 77, died early Wednesday in his Hyannis Port home after waging more than a year-long battle with brain cancer.

At the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston, hundreds of visitors lined up to sign condolence books for Ted Kennedy's family.

"I wanted to just leave some flowers for friendship, because he was a friend to all of us here and I just wanted to make a tribute to him and thank him in my own way," one woman said.

She was one of thousands expected to visit the library over the next two days as Kennedy will lie in repose there, arriving by motorcade Thursday afternoon. It will be the only opportunity for the public to view the casket and pay respects.

"Senator Kennedy is a peaceful and good man," said 7-year-old Zach, who made a trip from Milton, Mass., with his mother to write in the condolence book.

"It's such a sense of loss for, not just Massachusetts, but also the United States. Sen. Kennedy was just a wonderful man," Zach's mother said.

"Just sort of put aside all my other plans for the day and decided to come down. The senator was a big part of my life," one man said.

"He's been a part of our culture since we were born in the late '50s and the Kennedy family's just been so famous all these years. It's a tragedy," another library visitor said.

"Just that last liberal roar is something that I think we'll all miss," said another.

"Well, I am battling cancer, same as Sen. Kennedy, and I just feel there will be a big void here in Massachusetts because the Kennedys have done so much for us," yet another said.

Kennedy will lie in repose in the library's Smith Room.

"We thanked the Kennedys and Ted in particular for his time in service and his sponsorship of the many bills that he passed, so, we shared our condolences with the people of this state and America who definitely appreciated Ted's service," said a San Francisco man who visited the library with his wife and baby daughter.

Outside the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Cape residents and tourists delivered bouquets of flowers, balloons and thank-you notes as family members boarded Kennedy's beloved sailboat, the Mya, raising four flags on the vessel, including the flag of the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Flag, the Massachusetts flag and a fourth flag, the Signal F flag, which signifies that the boat's owner is missing.

"It's sad, very sad. He's part of American history so we thought we'd come down and see and be part of history," one Cape visitor said.

For many, Kennedy's passing signaled the end of an era.

"To me, they were the symbol of freedom for all races and women, all of 'em, that's what they stood for," a female visitor said.

Some admirers said they hoped it does not mean the end of a Kennedy presence in American politics.

"There's a lot of younger Kennedys and I'm sure they'll pick up the political ball and run with it," another said.

Cape resident Renee Didecco came with her children, leaving a life vest with a scribbled condolence that said, "Your memory will sail on with all of us."

"He's an icon and it's a really sad day. You know, it's an end of an era. He was a guy you could run into at Joe's Twin Villa, out sailing on the Mya or making amazing things happen in the country, so it's sad," she said.

Docked in the harbor was a Nantucket light ship. In the commonwealth's history, such ships were used to patrol the coastline to let ships at sea know they were getting too close to the shoals. The ship will beam a light all night to signify hope.

At the Massachusetts Statehouse, the flag flew at half-staff while scores of mourners from London to Seattle came to express sympathy in a condolence book.

"Sorry you did not live to see health care reform," a Washington state resident wrote.

"Whether it's in America or England or anywhere else, we all have to appreciate great men and do what little we can. He dedicated his life to the American people and also for the rest of the world," one man said.

Vanessa Palmer mourned Kennedy's passing by leaving flowers on the steps of Beacon Hill.

"I didn't realize I'd be so emotional about it but I just think that what he stood for was what this country was made to be for," she said.

Both Republicans and Democrats on the hill were united in agreement on his impact in Massachusetts.

"Sen. Kennedy walked with presidents and prime ministers, but he was equally accessible to people at the local level," Lt. Gov. Tim Murray said.

"I didn't always agree with him on a lot of the issues he fought for or against in Washington, but as a state we made out pretty well and I think we should all be thankful and appreciative of his service," Republican state Sen. Richard Tisei said.

Harvard Law Prof. Charles Ogletree counted himself as a good friend of Kennedy's and said his passing was a tragic loss.

"He, a man of wealth, prestige and power, committed his life to the service of others. A man who lost two brothers to assassinations, two national leaders, still became a public servant," Ogletree said.

And despite Kennedy's privileged background, Ogletree said, he was a strong voice for the underprivileged during more than four decades on Capitol Hill, citing Kennedy's stand on busing.

"His standing up here in Boston in the 1970s, when there was a racial divide here in Boston, he stood up and said black children should be able to go to integrated schools," Ogletree said.

After the two-day wake at the Kennedy Library, the senator's funeral Mass will be held in Roxbury Saturday, followed by burial at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington.