Official Memorial Ceremony for George H.W. Bush Held

The memorial service for George Herbert Walker Bush, the former President of the United States from 1989 to 1993, was held on Wednesday at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., bringing together all living former presidents of the United States. Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama, along with current President Donald Trump, all attended the ceremony, which was not without its controversies. Notably, the absence of a handshake between Mr. Trump and Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton, who were seated in the front row, drew media attention. In contrast, the greeting between Donald Trump and Melania Trump with Barack Obama and Michelle Obama was another point of focus for the media. The Obama family sat next to the Trump family, with Jimmy Carter seated at the end of the same row. Trump tweeted on Wednesday morning that he looked forward to being with the Bush family at the ceremony, stating, "This is not a day of mourning, but a day to honor a great man who was first-rate in his long life. He will be missed." The 41st President of the United States passed away on Friday, December 9, at his home in Houston, Texas, at the age of 94. His last words, reportedly spoken on his deathbed to his son George W. Bush, another former president, were, "I love you too." George Herbert Walker Bush's casket was brought to Washington on Monday. A mourning ceremony was also held in Congress on Tuesday, which Donald Trump attended to pay his respects. Mr. Bush's remains will ultimately be taken to Texas after the ceremony at the National Cathedral for burial. Donald Trump declared Wednesday a national day of mourning, meaning government offices and the stock market would close. Despite being a member of the same party as Mr. Trump, both Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. are considered critics of him. However, the Bush family emphasized that the mourning ceremony should not become a platform for protests against the current president.