Three former presidents looked on at Washington National Cathedral as a fourth — George W. Bush — eulogized his dad on Wednesday.
WASHINGTON (AP) — George H. W. Bush was celebrated with high praise and loving humor Wednesday as the nation bade farewell to the man who was America’s 41st president and the last to fight for the U. S. in wartime. Three former presidents looked on at Washington National Cathedral as a fourth — George W. Bush — eulogized his dad.
« To us, » the son said of the father, « his was the brightest of a thousand points of light. »
After three days of funeral events in Washington, Bush was headed home to Texas for more ceremony and then his burial Thursday. After the cathedral service, the hearse and a long motorcade drove to the National Mall to pass by the World War II Memorial, a nod to the late president’s service as a World War II Navy pilot, then arrived at Joint Base Andrews.
Cannon roared again, « Hail to the Chief » was played for Bush for a final time in the capital and the plane with his casket and Bush family members aboard took off for Houston. He died Friday at age 94.
George W. Bush broke down briefly at the end of his eulogy while invoking the daughter his parents lost when she was 3 and his mother, Barbara, who died in April. He took comfort in knowing « Dad is hugging Robin and holding Mom’s hand again. »
For all the somber tributes to the late president’s public service and strength of character, laughter filled the cathedral time after time. The late president’s eulogists — son included — noted Bush’s tendency to tangle his words and show his goofy side.
He was « the last great-soldier statesman, » historian Jon Meacham said in his eulogy, « our shield » in dangerous times. But he also said that Bush, campaigning in a crowd in a department store, once shook hands with a mannequin. Rather than flushing in embarrassment, he simply cracked, « Never know. Gotta ask. »
He recounted how comedian Dana Carvey once said the key to doing an impersonation of Bush was « Mr. Rogers trying to be John Wayne. »
George W. Bush said « the man couldn’t stomach vegetables, especially broccoli, » and called that a defect passed down to his children.
The congregation at the cathedral, filled with foreign leaders and diplomats, Americans of high office and others touched by Bush’s life, rose for the arrival of the casket, accompanied by clergy of faiths from around the world.
