Death and state funeral of George H. W. Bush facts for kids
On November 30, 2018, George H. W. Bush died at his home in Houston, Texas. Bush was the 41st President of the United States, the 43rd Vice President of the United States, the former Director of Central Intelligence, and a former member of the United States House of Representatives. This happened nearly 8 months after the death of his wife Barbara Bush in April.
Bush was the first president to die since Gerald Ford in 2006, and, at the age of 94 years and 171 days, he surpassed Ford for the title of longest-lived U.S. president in history.
Shortly after news broke of Bush's death, on December 5, 2018, Donald Trump declared a National Day of Mourning and ordered all flags "throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions" lowered to half staff for the remainder of the year.
The state funeral of Bush is the official funerary rites conducted by the Government of the United States. He will be interred at the George Bush Presidential Library. The state funeral and respective activities are scheduled to occur over a period of four days from December 3 to December 6, 2018.
Events
The corps of cadets of the United States Military Academy, United States Air Force Academy, and United States Coast Guard Academy, and the corps of midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy are to be immediately assembled to be officially informed of the death by the superintendents of their respective institutions.
Very early on the morning of December 1, 2018, the flags at the White House were lowered to half staff.
State funeral
Before his death, Bush filed a 211-page document with the Military District of Washington, which had a request for an aerial flyover of fighter jets in missing man formation by the United States Air Force during his state funeral, as well as final interment and burial to occur at the George Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas.
Bush made plans for a national funeral service to be held at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
Images for kids
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The United States flag is lowered to half mast aboard USS George H.W. Bush on December 1, 2018.
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A VC-25 of the 89th Airlift Wing departs Ellington Field, Texas on December 3, 2018, carrying the remains of George H.W. Bush to Washington for the state funeral.
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The casket carrying George H.W. Bush's remains arrives at Joint Base Andrews on December 3, 2018.
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Members of the public pay their respects Monday evening, December 3, 2018, at the casket of former President George H. W. Bush lying in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.
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President Trump and former presidents Obama, Clinton, and Carter along with their respective wives pictured during the memorial service at the National Cathedral on December 5, 2018.
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The casket containing the remains of George H.W. Bush is removed from the National Cathedral following the memorial service on December 5, 2018.
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Artillery at Fort Drum, New York fires the Salute to the Union – 50 successive artillery rounds – marking the end of the burial day on December 6, 2018
