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Wednesday: Details of President George H.W. Bush’s Funeral

“America is never wholly herself unless she is engaged in high moral principle. We as a people have such a purpose today. It is to make kinder the face of the nation and gentler the face of the world.”

Today the state funeral for former President George H.W. Bush, who passed away Friday at the age of 94, will take place in the National Cathedral.

The former president’s body has been lying in state in the U.S. Capitol rotunda since Monday with visitors filing past to pay last respects 24 hours a day. Even in the frigid cold that descended on Washington, thousands waited for their moment to honor a man who once wondered aloud if anyone would be interested in this time-honored tradition.

Wednesday has been declared a National Day of Mourning in America. Federal government offices will be closed, there will be no post office deliveries, and the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will suspend trading.

Tuesday night the Bush family held an impromptu visit to the Capitol, greeting Americans filing through the rotunda to view the flag-draped casket as well as old friends.

Visitors have until 7:00 Wednesday morning before the body is moved for funeral services at 11:00 a.m. at Washington National Cathedral with the Bush family and dignitaries from around the world.

State funeral speakers:
Former President George W. Bush, son of President George H.W. Bush and 43rd U.S. President.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney who forged a friendship [1] when he and the U.S. President worked together during their time in leadership, and whose last visit with President Bush was in September at Kennebunkport, something he noted as “a very good visit,” but added, “It was clear it would be my last visit with him — ever.”
Former Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY), long-time Bush family friend [2] who served 20 years in the U.S. Senate.
Pulitzer Prize winner and historian Jon Meacham, author of Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush. He also eulogized Barbara Bush at her funeral in April.

Guests
-All former U.S. Presidents: George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton
-Current President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump
-Hillary Clinton, former First Lady, U.S. Senator, and Secretary of State
-Michelle Obama, former First Lady
-Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady
-Prince Charles of Britain

-Susan Ford Bales, daughter of former President Gerald Ford
-Tricia Nixon Cox, daughter of former President Richard Nixon, and husband Edward Cox
-Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of former President Lyndon Johnson
-Lynda Johnson Robb, daughter of former President Lyndon Johnson, and husband Charles Robb, former Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator

-King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan
-President Andrzej Duda of Poland

-Charles, Prince of Wales, Great Britain
-Angela Merkel, German Chancellor
-Andrzej Duda, President of Poland
-Lech Walesa, former President of Poland
-Peter Cosgrove, Australian Governor General, and wife Lynne Cosgrove
-Carlos Salinas, former President of Mexico
-John Major, former UK Prime Minister, and wife Norma Major

-Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, prince of Bahrain and personal representative of the king of Bahrain
-Yasuo Fakuda, former Japanese Prime Minister
-Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, former Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
-Anibal Vaco Silva, former Portuguese President
-Toomas Hendrik Ilves, former President of Estonia
-Nasser al-Mohammed al-Ahmed al-Sabah, former Prime Minister of Kuwait
-John Swan, former Premier of Bermuda

Funeral Service
10:00 a.m. The former president’s body will be transported from the U.S. Capitol to the National Cathedral.
11-12:30: Funeral service will take place
1:15: The former president’s body will depart Andrews Air Force Base and return to Houston, TX, for funeral services planned for Thursday.

“In crucial things, unity. In important things, diversity. In all things, generosity.”

Background:
George H.W. Bush and the Price of Politics [3]. Op-ed by Jon Meacham.

Alan Simpson cried while writing George H.W. Bush’s eulogy — so he wouldn’t cry while giving it [4] by Karen Tumulty

George H.W. Bush’s Oval Office note to me revealed the heart of who he was [5] by Bill Clinton

John H. Sununu: Goodbye, George H.W. Bush. The world will miss a great president — and I will miss a friend [6] by John H. Sununu

George H.W. Bush was a tireless leader. Others should follow his example [7] by Hugh Hewitt

The two-syllable word that summed up George H.W. Bush — in the best way [8] by David Von Drehle

The extraordinary life and times of George H.W. Bush [9] by George F. Will

George H.W. Bush’s Uncommon Grace [10] by Frank Bruni