Return to Transcripts main page

At This Hour

State Funeral of George H.W. Bush. Aired 11-11:30a ET

Aired December 05, 2018 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[11:00:00] DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR: They've been planning it and, obviously, along with the president himself, which is as protocol expects. That's exactly the way that he went along with what other presidents before him have done in modern times to make his wishes known. That certainly is happening here.

What we are looking at is the National Cathedral where so many moments, as you said, national moments have happened. And just looking at this, Chris. We are looking at a moment in history.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: The priest, the reverend has moved into position inside now to receive the casket as they bring it up. The pallbearers will come forward, part of the Honor Guard here. You see them standing at the ready. The family is going to be seated. That's what we are waiting for right now is to make sure that everybody is there and they will be ready for the entrance hymn after. The receiving of the casket up at the head of the church.

To your point, Dana, you said this to me earlier, President George H.W. Bush wanted this to be very inclusive. There's very, very small number of people excluded in terms of those who are of political significance in his life.

BASH: Now, we can see over here the family is getting off the vans. We have been waiting for them to walk in where the hearse comes in. There you see Jeb Bush. Let's listen in.

UNIDENTIFIED SERVICEMEMBER: Present --

UNIDENTIFIED SERVICEMEMBER: Present.

UNIDENTIFIED SERVICEMEMBER: -- arms.

[11:04:08] (MUSIC)

MICHAEL CURRY, BISHOP, EPISCOPAL CHURCH: With faith in Jesus Christ, we receive the body of our brother, George, for burial. Let us pray with confidence to God, the giver of life, that he will raise him to perfection in the company of saints. Deliver your servant George, Sovereign Lord Christ, from all evil and set him free from every bond, that he may rest with all your saints in the eternal habitations where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign one God forever and ever.

CROWD: Amen. RT. REV. MARIANN EDGAR BUDDE, BISHOP OF WASHINGTON: Let us pray,

also, for all who mourn, that they may cast their care on God and know the consolation of his love. All Mighty God, look with pity upon the sorrow of our servants for whom we pray. Remember them, gracious God, in mercy. Nourish them with patience. Comfort them with a sense of your goodness. Lift your countenance upon them and give them peace, for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CROWD: Amen.

[13:08:55] (SINGING)

[13:14:35] (BELL TOLLS)

UNIDENTIFIED REVEREND: I am the resurrection and I am the life says the Lord. Whoever has faith in me shall have life even though he died. Everyone who has life and has committed himself to me in faith shall not die forever. As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives and that the last he will stand upon the earth. After my awaking, he will raise me up and in my body I shall see God. I myself shall see and my eyes behold him. Who is my friend and not a stranger, for none of us and none becomes his own master when he dies. So if we have life we are alive in the Lord. And if we die, we die in the Lord. So then whether we live or die, we are the Lord's possession. Happy from now on are those who die in the Lord. So it says the spirit, they rest from their labors.

UNIDENTIFIED SERVICEMEMBER: (INAUDIBLE) Halt. (INAUDIBLE) Forward march.

[11:21:10] (MUSIC)

(SINGING)

VERY REV. RANDOLPH MARSHALL HOLLERITH, DEAN, WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL: The Lord be with you.

CROWD: And also with you.

HOLLERITH: Let us pray. Oh, God, whose mercies cannot be numbered, accept our prayers on behalf of your servant, George, and grant him an entrance into the land of light and joy in the fellowship of your saints through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

[11:25:45] LAUREN BUSH, GRANDDAUGHTER OF GEORGE H.W. BUSH: A reading from the Prophet Isaiah. Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth and a thick darkness the peoples. The Lord will arise upon you and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around. They all gather together. They come to you. Your sons shall come from far away and your daughters shall be carried on their nurse's arms. Then you shall see and be radiant. Your heart shall thrill and rejoice because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you and the wealth of the nations shall come to you. ASHLEY WALKER BUSH, GRANDDAUGHTER OF GEORGE H.W. BUSH: Violence shall

no more be heard in your land. Devastation or destruction within your borders. You shall call your walls salvation and your gates praise. The sun shall no longer be your light by day nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night. But the Lord will be your everlasting light and your guide will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down or your moon withdraw itself, for the Lord will be your everlasting light and your days of mourning shall be ended. The word of the Lord.

CROWD: Thanks be to God.

JON MEACHAM, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: The story was almost over even before it had fully begun. Shortly after dawn on Saturday, September 2, 1944, Lieutenant Junior Grade George Herbert Walker Bush joined by two crew mates took off from the "USS San Jacinto" (ph) to attack a radio tower on Chichigima (ph). As they approached the target, the air was heavy with flack. The plane was hit, smoke filled the cockpit, flames raced across the wings. My God, Lieutenant Bush thought, this thing's going to go down. Yet he kept the plane in its 35-degree dive, dropped his bombs and then roared off out to sea telling his crew mates to hit the silk. Following protocol, Lieutenant Bush turned the plane so they could bail out. Only then did Bush parachute from the cockpit. The wind propelled him backward and he gashed his head on the tale of the plane as he flew through the sky. He plunged deep into the ocean, bobbed to the surface, and flopped onto a tiny raft. His head bleeding, his eyes burning --