Currents News Staff
The nation paused Monday for the first of what will be several days of public services and memorials, all to honor a President who gave a lifetime of service to his country.
“That spirit of service and giving back was ingrained and I think that has carried through the generations,” said Mary Kate Cary, a former speechwriter for George H.W. Bush.
Former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff under President George H.W. Bush, General Colin Powell, said “I think that the service he gave to America will not be matched anytime soon. And the experience he brought to the office will not be matched anytime soon.”
President George Herbert Walker Bush died at his home in Houston Friday at the age of 94, surrounded by family and friends.
“My own personal view is that people shouldn’t mourn the life of George H.W. Bush. We’re celebrating a life that was so well lived,” said Neil Bush, President Bush’s son.
After a brief ceremony at Ellington Field, members of President Bush’s family, including his son, President George W. Bush, and his service dog, Sully, who spent Sunday night next to the President’s casket, all boarded a Presidential 747, renamed “Special Air Mission 41”, landing in Washington for the last time.
President Bush will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda on Monday night through Wednesday morning.
Wednesday has been declared a national day of mourning, and all current and former U.S. Presidents are expected to attend a funeral service at the National Cathedral.
President George H.W. Bush will be interred Thursday at his Presidential Library in College Station, next to his wife, Barbara and daughter, Robin.