Before hedied at age 94 on Friday,former presidentGeorge H.W. Bushworried about how the world would react to his death.
Bush’s spokesman Jim McGrath revealed the surprising anecdote on Tuesday evening, saying that the 41st President of the United States once feared that no one would show up to his funeral.
“Briefed in 2011 about his funeral and lying in state, the 41st President asked with typical humility, ‘Do you think anyone will come?'” hetweetedalongside an aerial photo from the service for the late former leader. “Tonight, people are waiting hours to pay their respects.”
Despite Bush’s concerns, thousands of people lined up in the past two days to pay their respects to the late president who has been lying in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda since Monday.
Aaron M. Sprecher/AP
The 41st president’s body will remain on the Lincoln Catafalque in the Capitol Rotunda through 7 a.m. ET Wednesday, as it will stay open to accommodate public mourners. Bush is the first president to lie in state since the death of Gerald Ford in 2006. Including Bush,only 32 people have ever lain in state in the Rotunda, including Sen. John McCain earlier this year.
Sully at the funeral of former President George H. W. Bush.Bill Clark/Congressional Quarterly/Newscom/Zuma
On Monday, the late president’s sonGeorge W. Bushwas visibly emotional whilemourninghis father during the state funeral at the Capitol Rotunda.
Supporting the eldest Bush sibling, 72, was his wife, former first ladyLaura Bushand their twin daughters as well as his brothers Jeb Bush, 65, Neil Bush, 63, Marvin Bush, 62, and sister Dorothy Bush Koch, 59.
Former US President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush.TING SHEN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Jenna Bush Hager, Henry Hager, and Barbara Bush.Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP/REX/Shutterstock
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call
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Sully has also been in attendance over the past few days at the Washington D.C. services while the former president is lying in state. The canine will then relocate to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to assist more veterans like Bush, according toCNN.
Bush’s state funeralwill be heldat the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET.
In a presidential proclamation, Trump declared that Wednesday would be dedicated to Bush’s memory and that flags should be lowered to half-staff in his honor for 30 days.
source: people.com
