News: Remembering The Life Of George H.W. Bush
by Samuel Rodriguez
George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and decorated World War 2 veteran, died Friday, November 30th, at the age of 94.
According to CNN, his casket sits in the US capital until a state funeral will take place on December 5th at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC. From there, Bush will be flown to Texas to be buried at his Presidential library.
On Monday, current President Donald Trump honored the lost hero at the US capitol and ended his visit with a firm salute to Bush’s casket. Trump will attend Bush’s funeral Wednesday along with Prince Charles of Wales, who will be representing his mother, Queen Elizabeth.
George H.W. Bush was born on 1924 in Massachusetts to his mother, Dorothy Bush, and his father, Prescott Sheldon Bush. Once he turned 18, Bush enlisted in the Navy and was commissioned at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi before his 19th birthday, making him one of the youngest aviators in the US Navy.
According to The Washington Post, on September 2, 1944, Bush flew an air attack over Chichi Jima, a Japanese island 500 miles off the coast. This island was a communications center for the Japanese and had great importance to their military forces. Upon reaching the island, Bush’s plane was shot, and flames engulfed its wings.
The Washington Post continues, saying, “Choking on smoke, Bush continued to steer the plane, dropping bombs and hitting the radio tower.”
Of all the soldiers who escaped their planes that day, Bush was the only one to survive. In his years of service, Bush received the Distinguished Flying Cross, three air medals, and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Post World War 2, Bush graduated from Yale and took a job in an oil business for Dresser Industries. According to BBC News, within 3 years Bush started his own oil firm – the Bush-Overbey Oil Development Company – which became highly successful.
In 1964, Bush was elected into the House of Representatives where he served two terms and marked the beginning of his political career. Bush went from the Representative of Texas (1967-71), to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations (1971-73), then became the United States Director of Central Intelligence (1976-77) and went on to become the Vice President to Ronald Reagan (1981-89).
Finally, he became the 41st President of the United States to cap off his career, with his term lasting from 1989 to 1993. Throughout his presidency, Bush made critical decisions that would greatly impact our nation’s future, signing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, according to History.com.
George H.W. Bush stood as a testament to what a model American is capable of. His life story inspires people to pursue their dreams despite how hard they may seem. Bush’s legacy will forever bring honor to what it means to truly be an American. The loss of such a strong and admirable leader brings sorrow throughout America, but continues to bring strength for future generations.
The Brave News 