Dignitaries from the world over, all four living former presidents and Americans across the country were poised on Wednesday to bid a final farewell to George H.W. Bush at a funeral at the National Cathedral.
After a ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda, where Bush has been lying in state since Monday evening, his flag-draped casket will be transported to the National Cathedral in Washington for his funeral.
The four living ex-presidents – Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama – will attend along with President Trump, who will not speak.
Bush 41’s son former President George W. Bush will deliver a eulogy along with former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming and historian Jon Meacham.
The president said Bush’s life will be celebrated.
“Looking forward to being with the Bush family. This is not a funeral, this is a day of celebration for a great man who has led a long and distinguished life. He will be missed!,” Trump wrote on his Twitter account.
Scheduled to attend the invitation-only ceremony are Prince Charles of Britain, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
Also on the list is Mike Lovejoy, an electrician who was the fix-it man for the elder Bush at his Kennenbunkport, Me., summer home since 1990, the Associated Press reported.
Trump designated Wednesday as a national day of mourning and ordered all federal government offices to close.
The stock market is closed and the Supreme Court has postponed oral arguments until Thursday.
Flags across the country will fly at half-staff for 30 days.
Following the funeral at the cathedral, Bush’s body will be flown back to Texas aboard Air Force One, dubbed “Special Mission 41” for the trip.
Bush, who died Friday at the age of 94, will then lie in repose at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, which held the funeral for his wife, former First Lady Barbara Bush in April, before being interred on the grounds of his presidential library at Texas A&M University in College Station.
He will be buried next to Barbara Bush, his wife of 73 years, and daughter Robin, who died at age 3 in 1953.
With Post Wires
Source: Read Full Article