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The nation honors President George H.W. Bush
By Meg Wagner, Veronica Rocha, Brian Ries, Amanda Wills and Jessie Yeung, CNN
Updated 12:02 p.m. ET, December 13, 2018
What we covered here
George H.W. Bush, who died Friday at 94, was remembered at a funeral at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, this morning.
The final journey: His casket traveled by train to his final resting place in College Station, Texas.
The burial: The former president will be laid to rest on the grounds of the Bush Presidential Library and Museum in a private ceremony, alongside his wife Barbara and their daughter Robin, who died of leukemia as a child.
Days of mourning: Earlier this week, mourners lined up at the US Capitol to pay their respects, and Wednesday — the day of his state funeral in Washington — was declared a national day of mourning.
5:47 p.m. ET, December 3, 2018
The photo of George H.W. Bush that Paul Ryan will never forget
Photo by Eric Draper/White House/Getty Images
House Speaker Paul Ryan, describing how George H.W. Bush "personified grace," spoke of a photo he will always remember -- it shows the older Bush holding his son President George W. Bush's hand at the service for America's National Day of Prayer and Remembrance on Sept. 14, 2001, just days after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
"This one I will never forget," Ryan said, describing it as an image revealing "a loving father reaching out to hold his son's hand."
Watch the moment:
Paul Ryan: Bush embodied "the finest qualities of our nation and of humankind"
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan praised former President George H.W. Bush as "a great leader and a good man."
Bush's 1988 presidential campaign was the first Ryan had ever been involved in, he said.
"He was the first president I had the chance to vote for. And he was the first president to teach me and many of us that in a democracy, sometimes you fall short. And that how you handle that — that is just as important as how you win," Ryan said, speaking after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Bush was not only a good leader, but a good father and husband, demonstrating "the finest qualities of our nation and of humankind," Ryan said.
"He reached the heights of power with uncommon humility. He made monumental contributions to freedom with a fundamental decency that resonates across generations. No one better harmonized the joy of life and the duty of life... God bless the 41st president of the United States," he said.
Hear the opening of Ryan's speech:
McConnell praises Bush's "steady hand" over decades in leadership
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell honored President George H.W. Bush in remarks at a ceremony at the US Capitol this afternoon, citing Bush's "steady hand" that kept America on course for decades -- first as an aviator, then a congressman, ambassador, envoy to China, CIA director, vice president and commander-in-chief.
Here's what he said:
"Through the Cold War and the Soviet Union's collapse, he kept us on course. When the rule of law needed defending in the Persian Gulf, he kept us on course."
"With his even temperament and hard-won expertise, George Herbert Walker Bush steered this country as straight as he steered that airplane. He kept us flying high and challenged us to fly higher still. And he did it with modesty and kindness that would have been surprising in someone one tenth as tough and accomplished as he was."
Hear McConnell's opening remarks:
"Dear Lord, thank you for inspiring such greatness": Bush's ceremony opens with a prayer honoring his public service
Former President George H.W. Bush's ceremony at the US Capitol is officially underway.
After the casket was placed on the catafalque, House Chaplain Rev. Patrick Conroy opened the ceremony with a prayer that honored Bush's public service in the military, Congress and White House.
Read it:
"Let us pray. We give you thanks, almighty god, for the appearance among us of great men and women who serve as inspirations for all Americans to be their best in service, to God, country and neighbor. This day, we honor our 41st president, George H.W. Bush. President Bush dedicated his entire life to public service as a vocation, first in the military, then as a member of Congress, a diplomat, director of the CIA, vice president and finally, president. It is a record of service reminiscent of John Quincy Adams, an unmatched in nearly a century. We thank you, oh, God, for having endowed President Bush with noblesse oblige, and ask that his example of service to others might be an inspiration to all Americans, indeed to all the world. As we continue this celebration of honor, grant that all who attend to these proceedings might be desirous of being our best selves in service to all our brothers and sisters as you might call us to be. Dear Lord, thank you for inspiring such greatness in President George H.W. Bush, and continue to bless the United States of America. Amen."
Watch it here:
All sitting justices are expected to attend the arrival ceremony — except for Ruth Bader Ginsburg
From CNN's Ariane de Vogue
Associate Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Elena Kagan, Clarence Thomas, and Chief Justice John Roberts arrive for services for former President George H.W. Bush at the US Capitol Rotunda on Dec. 03, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais/ Pool/Getty Images)
All sitting US Supreme Court justices are expected to attend the arrival ceremony at the US Capitol for President George H.W. Bush — except for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the court's spokesperson said.
Ginsburg, still recovering from fractured ribs, is expected to be on the bench tomorrow for oral arguments, according to a court spokeswoman. Ginsburg heard arguments this morning.
Presidential hearse arrives at the US Capitol
The hearse carrying former President George H.W. Bush's casket has arrived at the East Front of the US Capitol.
Members of the Bush family and the former president's Cabinet were standing outside the Capitol to receive the casket and to lead it the Rotunda.
As per tradition, Bush will lie in state in the Rotunda until Wednesday morning. The public can pay their respects to the 41st president from 7:30 p.m. ET Monday to 8:45 a.m. ET Wednesday.
A Republican official tells CNN that congressional authorities intend to keep the public viewing in the Rotunda open all night in order to allow the crowds to pay their respects.
Watch the arrival of the hearse:
McConnell pays tribute to Bush on the Senate floor
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell paid tribute to former President George H.W. Bush on the Senate floor Monday afternoon, praising his military service and wartime presidential leadership.
"He aspired to govern his country well, preserve what was good, and improve things where possible. He wanted to keep us flying high and challenge us to fly a little higher. And he led us as he seemingly did everything in his life, with grace and kindness that seemed almost unbelievable, given all that he'd accomplished," McConnell said.
The Kentucky Republican also spoke of Bush's role as a husband and father to "a family of leaders whose contributions have enriched this country even more."
"A quarter-century after George Bush left the Oval Office, his legacy continues to directly inspire not just 'a thousand points of light,' but millions of volunteers who serve others," McConnell said.
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