George HW Bush at his final rest in Texas
GEORGE HW Bush, who shaped history as 41st president and patriarch of a family that occupied the White House for a dozen years, was going to his final rest, in Texas.
The US said goodbye to him on Wednesday in a funeral service in Washington that offered high praise for the last of the presidents to have fought in the Second World War – and a hefty dose of humour about a man once described as a cross between Mister Rogers and John Wayne.
After three days of remembrance in Washington, a plane brought Mr Bush’s casket for his funeral’s closing ceremonies in Houston and burial yesterday at his family plot on the presidential library grounds at Texas A&M University in College Station.
His final resting place is alongside Barbara Bush, his wife of 73 years, and Robin Bush, the daughter they lost to leukaemia aged three.
As a motorcade subsequently carried Mr Bush’s remains to the family church, St Martin’s Episcopal, along a closed interstate, hundreds of people in stopped cars on the other side of the road, took pictures and shot mobile phone video. At least 15 firefighters scaled a pair of stopped firetrucks to salute.
Upon its arrival at the church, Mr Bush’s casket was met by a military band and Houston Democratic mayor Sylvester Turner.
In the service at Washington National Cathedral, three former presidents and President Donald Trump looked on.