Family, friends, colleagues and strangers continue to pay their respects to President George H. W. Bush, who passed away Friday night at the age of 94.
Family, friends, colleagues and strangers continue to pay their respects to former President George H.W. Bush, who passed away Friday night, at the age of 94.
Among them was former Republican Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole. In a moving gesture, the 95-year-old was helped out of his wheelchair by an aide so he could properly give a final salute to his old friend, as Bush's body lies in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
Dole told CNN that Bush’s death meant the end of an era — saying he was the last president to have served in World War II. Dole, himself, is a decorated veteran of that same war, earning two purple hearts and a bronze star for his sacrifices.
In 1988, Bush and Dole faced off against each other in the Republican primary for the presidential nomination. Bush would go on to become the nation’s 41st commander-in-chief, and the two would remain friends.
On Twitter, Jim McGrath called the salute “a last, powerful gesture of respect from one member of the Greatest Generation @SenatorDole to another. #Remembering41 #Bush41.”
Son Jeb Bush tweeted, “Just incredible. Thank you Senator Dole.”
In the wake of the president’s passing, the Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas has set up a display honoring him. It highlights Dole’s relationship with the president and is open to the public.
Bush will be laid to rest on Thursday at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Texas.
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