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CNN Live Event/Special
State Funeral for George H.W. Bush. Aired 12-12:30p ET
Aired December 06, 2018 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. In Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilot, was crucified dead and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sitith on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge that quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Please be seated.
REBA MCENTIRE, MUSICIAN, (singing "The Lord's Prayer): Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy, oh, thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, amen. Give us this day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please stand for the prayers of the people.
In peace let us pray to the Lord. Almighty God who has knit together thine elect in one communion in fellowship, in the mystical body of they Son, Christ our Lord, grant we beseech these to thy whole church in paradise and on earth, thy light and thy peace. Amen.
ALL: Amen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grant that all who have been baptized into Christ's death and resurrection may die to sin and rise to newness of life and that through the grave and gate of death we may pass with him to our joyful resurrection.
ALL: Amen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Grant us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walks as yet by faith, that they Holy Spirit may lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days. Amen.
ALL: Amen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grant to thy faithful people pardoned and peace that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve thee with a quiet mind.
ALL: Amen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grant to all who mourn and sure confidence in thy Fatherly care, that casting all their grief on thee, they may know the consolation of thy love.
ALL: Amen.
[12:05:01] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Give courage and faith to those who are bereaved, that they may have strength to meet the days ahead in the comfort of a reasonable and holy hope in the joyful expectation of eternal life with those they love.
ALL: Amen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Help us we pray in the midst of things we cannot understand to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins and the resurrection to life everlasting. Amen.
ALL: Amen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Granted increasing in knowledge and love of thee, George may go from strength to strength in the life of perfect service in thy heavenly kingdom.
ALL: Amen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Grant us with all who have died in the hope of the resurrection to have our consummation and bless in thy eternal and everlasting glory. And with all thy saints to receive the crown of life which thou does promise to all who share in the victory of they Son, Jesus Christ, who livith and reignith with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, Amen.
ALL: Amen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please sit for the anthem.
ST. MARTIN'S CHOIR (singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"): Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored. He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword. His truth is marching on.
Glory, Glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps. They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps. I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps. His day is marching on. Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! His day is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea. With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me. As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free. While God is marching on.
[12:10:30] Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on.
Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on.
REV. RUSSELL LEVENSON JR.: Please stand for the commendation in the middle of page five.
Give rest acries (ph) to thy servant with thy saints.
ALL: Where sorrow and pain are no more but now (ph) a sign of life everlasting.
LEVENSON: Thou only aren't immortal, the creator and maker of mankind, and we are mortal, formed of the earth and unto earth shall we return, for so thou didst ordain when thou creatist me saying dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return. All we go down to the dust, yet even at the grave we make our song, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
ALL: Rest our minds to thy servant with thy saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, the sign (ph) of life everlasting.
LEVENSON: Into thy hands, o merciful savior, we commend thy servant George. Acknowledge we humbly beseech Thee, as sheep of thine own fold, a lamb of thine own flock, a sinner of thine own redeeming, receive George into the arms of thy mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace and into the glorious company of the saints in light, Amen.
ALL: Amen.
LEVENSON: Before our bishop, the bishop of the great diocese of Texas offers a blessing, let me share with you that when we leave today we'll be singing hymn number 562, "Onward Christian Soldiers." It's on page eight and nine of your booklet. It was one of the favorites of the 41st president. And as we leave the church, we would ask that everyone remain in your seats unless you are instructed to do so otherwise. Please remain in your seats until the family, pallbearers, leave the church and then until we drive away for the president's burial. We'll ask that you please remain here and continue in a spirit of prayer and thanksgiving for this remarkable man's life and the celebration of his life now with our Lord.
REV. C. ANDREW DOYLE: Unto God's gracious mercy and protection we commit you. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you peace. And may the blessing of God Almighty, and Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.
[12:15:05] Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
(FUNERAL RECESSIONAL)
[12:21:08] WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: There you see the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott. He's there as well.
This has been such a powerful, very moving, wonderful memorial service, the funeral for the 41st president of the United States, George Herbert Walker Bush.
I'm here with John King, Dana Bash, Mary Kate Cary.
We're going to assess what has happened.
But, John, let's talk a little bit about what we just saw because it was so, so beautiful.
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It was touching, moving, a celebration of the man, the celebration of his friendship, yes, a celebration of his presidency and his life in politics and public service, but much more so a celebration of the person, as a friend to the former Secretary of State Jim Baker, as a great grandfather, George P. Bush speaking there quite movingly about time in Kennebunkport and how even when he was vice president and president, he always put the grandchildren first and family first.
From every speaker, a reflection of something you didn't see as publicly. It wasn't George H.W. Bush's way. It also wasn't -- we didn't live in that time where his faith was a constant in his life, but it was not such an open, public thing. It was a private faith. His son, George W. Bush, a born again Christian, much more openly -- open about his faith in politics. George H.W. Bush of a different generation and himself more reserved about his faith. But you cannot come away from the last couple of hours to just understand how much his relationship with God and his relationship with this church in Houston was so critical to his life and the life of his wife Barbara.
And he's, of course, now about to make his final journey to rejoin her.
BLITZER: And they'll be heading up to College Station, Texas, the George Bush Presidential Library and museum. That's where we are right now. And he'll eventually be laid to rest.
But, Dana, what do you think?
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I -- this -- this was such a tribute befitting the man in every single way, both in the people chosen to speak, in what they said, in the feel. I mean we're not in the church, but you could almost feel it. It was almost palpable, the love, the warmth, the reverence. And I thought maybe the line that summed it up the most when we're
thinking about the eulogists was James Baker talking about the fact that he was not known as the most eloquent, but his deeds were eloquent. He demonstrated their eloquence by carving them into the hard granite of history.
BLITZER: Mary Kate.
MARY KATE CARY, FORMER GEORGE H.W. BUSH SPEECHWRITER: Yes, that was my favorite -- just as a speechwriter.
BASH: I'm sure.
CARY: I thought the contrast between Secretary Baker and George P. was fascinating. Secretary Baker, following almost in Meacham's steps, with elevating President Bush to the classic virtues of civilization. What's best about George Bush is what's best about our nation.
And then George P., much more personal, talking about the notes to the grandchildren saying, please, come back soon. The fly fishing. He did that with my daughters. He pointed right into the surf at Walker's Point one time and said, girls, here's where you cast your rods if you want to catch a fish. And it's very real, very personal and a great balance between the two. I loved both of them.
BLITZER: Jamie Gangel, did it -- the service live up to your expectations?
JAMIE GANGEL, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: I thought it was magnificent and fitting. And what I'm going to -- I'm going to go out on a limb and channel 41 here for a minute. I think the things he would have loved. Mary Kate was talking about the difference between James Baker's great tribute, which he would have said, you know, you shouldn't brag about me, but he would have loved, I think, his grandson, George P. The Klondike bars. The Blue Bell ice cream. That's that family and you would have gotten a smile.
I also think we have to go back to the music. The great -- you know, "Battle Hymn of the Republic." These were songs that President Bush picked himself and he loved them. And he adored Reba McEntire, who was extraordinary. He would have -- he always wanted to hear her sing.
[12:25:11] But I want to end with the Oak Ridge Boys because not only were they inspiring and moving, but they were funny. And 41 loved humor. And when they said before they spoke that he fancied that he was a good -- had a good bass voice and then paused and said he didn't, and you saw, you know, the family all laughing, for President George W. Bush just cracking up, that's the kind of moment that ty think 41 would have loved, too.
Wolf.
BLITZER: Full military honors, of course, for the 41st president of the United States, as the flag-draped casket is being taken from the church, St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston, and it will be brought over to the presidential hearse and then it will go to a Houston train station for about a 100 mile train ride from Houston to College Station, Texas.
This is going to be a specially modified, outfitted train with the colors of Air Force One along the sides. And people all along the train route will be able to pay their respects to this president.
Let's listen in.
(DEPARTURE CEREMONY AT SAINT MARTIN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH)
[12:29:46] BLITZER: There they are, the Bush children, the children of the 41st president. They're standing there in front of the St. Martin's Episcopal Church as this casket is being taken to a motorcade that will go to a local train station and then everyone will board a specially equipped train that will take the family and the casket over to College Station to the George Bush
