Farewell 41

George Herbert Walker Bush died on the night of November 30, 2018, less than 8 months after the death of his wife former First Lady, Barbara Bush. His death was a result of the numerous health issues he had been battling for the past few years.

This made him the longest lived president in United States history at 94 years, 171 days. George H.W. Bush, the son of Senator Prescott Bush, was born in Milton, Massachusetts. He met Barbara Pierce, who would later become his wife of 73 years, at a dance when he was just 17 years old.

Bush enlisted in the U.S. Navy on his 18th birthday where he became the youngest Navy pilot during World War ll. His plane was hit during a bombing run in the Pacific. He was the only one of his crew members to escape the burning plane and waited in an inflated raft until a U.S. Navy submarine came to rescue him. Bush received many awards for his service and was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1945.

After his military discharge, Bush attended Yale University in an accelerated program that allowed him graduate in two and half years rather than four. After he graduated, he moved his family to Midland, Texas where he entered the oil business and became a millionaire by the age of 40. Bush was defeated in his first run for the United States Senate in 1964, but won election to the House of Representatives from Texas's 7th congressional district in 1966.

Bush also served as ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National Committee in 1973. The following year, President Gerald Ford appointed him Chief of the Liaison Office in China and later made him the director of Central Intelligence. Bush ran for president in 1980 and was defeated in the Republican primary by Ronald Reagan. Bush became his running mate and was vice-president after the election. Bush became the 41st president of the United States in 1988, becoming the first incumbent vice president to be elected president in 152 years. However, he was defeated by Bill Clinton while running for his second term.

Shortly after news broke of Bush's death, President Donald Trump declared a National Day of Mourning and ordered all flags throughout the United States and its Territories and posse

ssions lowered to half staff for 30 days after his death. The state funeral of George H. W. Bush was the official funerary rites conducted by the Government of the United States. They occurred over a period of three days from December 3–6, 2018.

The funeral occured in three parts. Part one began in Houston, Texas. On the morning of December 3, 2018, the casket carrying Bush's remains were moved to a hearse and escorted from a funeral home by Houston Police Department motorcycle outriders to the runway of Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base. A brief ceremony was held for 100 invited guests, prior to the casket's placement on the waiting "Special Air Mission 41" United States Air Force's 89th Airlift Wing.

Former president George W. Bush accompanied the casket aboard the aircraft, and was joined by the late president Bush's service dog Sully. Special Air Mission 41 arrived at Joint Base Andrews. The casket was removed from the aircraft and transferred to the United States Capitol rotunda from the evening of December 3 through the morning of December 5.

On December 5, the casket was transferred from the Capitol rotunda for funeral services at Washington National Cathedral. During George W. Bush’s eulogy to his father, he shared that his father’s last words were "I love you too," spoken to him over the phone. After the services in Washington D.C., Bush 41 was flown back to Texas for a second funeral service held for family and friends on December 6.

After the church service, the remains transported by special railway funeral car to the George Bush Presidential Library for burial. During interment, the United States Navy announced it would perform the largest funeral flyover in its history which featured 21 aircraft. This was done as an honor to Bush's Navy pilot service during World War II.

The interment ceremony was private; it was not filmed or broadcast on television at the request of the Bush family. Bush's remains were buried in College Station, Texas, on the grounds of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on December 7 between the graves of his wife Barbara and his daughter Robin.