US farewells Bush
A DIVIDED Washington led by the nation’s five living presidents put on a rare show of unity yesterday at the state funeral of George H.W. Bush
Donald and Melania Trump shared a front row pew in the National Cathedral with past presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and their wives as an honour guard brought the flag-draped casket into the prayer hall filled with dignitaries.
George W. Bush tapped the casket twice when he walked up to deliver a rousing eulogy, fighting through tears as he sang the praises of his father and predecessor as commander-in-chief, who died Friday at age 94.
“He showed me what it means to be a president who serves with integrity, leads with courage, and acts with love in his heart for the citizens of our country,” he said.
“He was born with just two settings — full throttle, then sleep.
“To us, his was the brightest of a thousand points of light,” he said in a reference to his father’s signature call to volunteerism.
“When the history books are written, they will say that George H.W. Bush was a great president of the United States.”
The eulogy followed a performance by Irish tenor Ronan Tynan — a friend of H.W. who sang to him in his dying hours.
The funeral capped a national homage that saw America’s 41st president lie in state in the US Capitol rotunda, where thousands paid respects to a statesman who steered the nation through turbulent times including the end of the Cold War — and in a style dra- matically different to the cur- rent president.
Since Mr Bush’s death, Mr Trump has traded his usual provocative posture for one of solemnity, tweeting before the service about “a day of celebration for a great man who has led a long and distinguished life.” “He will be missed!” Mr Trump wrote.
Mr Bush was interred yesterday at his presidential library in College Station, Texas, next to his wife, who died in April, and their daughter Robin who died of leukemia at age three.