George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the United States, was laid to rest Thursday, Dec. 6 on the grounds of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum at Texas A&M University following two brief ceremonies that were draped in the Aggie spirit.
Following a funeral service in Houston Thursday morning, Bush’s casket arrived in College Station by way of a custom Union Pacific 4141 locomotive in the afternoon. The Friends of 41 delegation who met the train and its passengers on George Bush Drive consisted of more than 400 people, including Texas A&M and Bush School students, faculty, staff and administrators.
“A value cannot be placed on the impact that President Bush and his dedication to public service has had on the lives of so many, especially at The Bush School,” Danielle Eastman, Bush School student and member of the Friends of 41 delegation said. “The burden and blessing to carry on his legacy is one that I hope to always humbly uphold, and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to stand alongside others who share that same conviction as President Bush came home.”
Texas A&M and the College Station community welcomed George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the United States, home to Aggieland for the final time on Dec. 6, 2018.
As he requested, President Bush was greeted with the playing of the "Aggie War Hymn". #Honoring41 pic.twitter.com/U9HBABr1Wb
— Texas A&M University (@TAMU) December 7, 2018
Sixty members of the Texas A&M Singing Cadets, 40 members of the Texas A&M Ross Volunteers and nearly 100 members of the Texas Aggie Band performed a musical prelude and ceremonial honors. All stood at attention for an hour or so before the train arrived, including during driving rain. The Singing Cadets performed “Mansions of the Lord” as Bush family members, military, family clergy and family guests exited the train. At Bush’s request made long ago, the Aggie Band performed the “Aggie War Hymn” as President Bush’s casket was taken off the train and placed into a hearse, which departed to the Bush Library grounds on George Bush Drive.
Receiving the funeral procession as it made its way toward the Bush Library grounds on George Bush Drive from the train were more than 2,000 saluting members of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, who lined each side of the half-mile stretch of Barbara Bush Drive to the library’s main entrance.
“This opportunity to participate in President Bush’s interment will be held in the hearts of many as the culmination of that service to state, nation and university during our time here as cadets,” Corps of Cadets Commander Adam Buckley said.
Honorary pallbearers included past and present Texas A&M, Bush School, Bush Library and Bush Foundation figures:
Perry Adkisson, Former Texas A&M System Chancellor
- Ray M. Bowen, Former Texas A&M President
- Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Former Bush School Dean
- Warren Finch, George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Director
- Charles Hermann, Bush School Founding Director
- David Jones, George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation CEO
- Fred McClure, Former George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation CEO
- Louis Newman, a Bryan businessman who helped bring the museum to Brazos County
- Bookman Peters, Former First City Bank of Bryan Chairman and CEO
- Donald E. Powell, Former FDIC Chairman
- Charles Schwartz, Texas A&M University System Board of Regents Chair
- John Sharp, Texas A&M University System Chancellor
- C. Slocum, Former Texas A&M Head Football Coach
- Col. Tyson Voelkel, Texas A&M Foundation President
- Mark A. Welsh III, Bush School Dean
- John White, Former Texas A&M University System Regent
- Michael K. Young, Texas A&M President
- Amy Sharp, Texas A&M Student Body President
- William Lemmons, Texas A&M Foundation Board of Trustees
- Jasmine Walia, Bush School Ambassadors Chief Student Leader
- Donald A. Adam, The Adam Corporation/Group Chairman & CEO
.@SecretService Bush Protective Division final notification: "Timberwolf's Detail concluded at 0600 … with no incidents to report at the George Bush Presidential Library – College Station, Texas. God speed Former President George H.W. Bush – you will be missed by all of us." pic.twitter.com/pz7FxoQf1H
— Jim McGrath (@jgm41) December 7, 2018
The private burial service on Texas A&M’s campus followed a state funeral a day earlier at the Washington National Cathedral and a ceremony at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston Thursday morning.
Bush, who passed away Friday, Nov. 30, at the age of 94, was buried at his family plot alongside his wife, Barbara, who passed away in April, and daughter, Robin, who passed away in 1953 at the age of 3 after battling leukemia.
Although he did not attend the university, in 1991 Bush chose Texas A&M as the site of his presidential library, which opened to the public on Nov. 6, 1997.
The grave site is open to the public during library hours.
