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THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE? GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
I AM THE CEO AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF LINDA LORELL MEDIA, HOST OF OUR VOICES MATTER PODCAST AND CO-FOUNDER OF A NEW DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE CALLED CIVIL DIALOGUES WITH MY DEAR FRIEND JEAN BECKER, WHO AS WE ALL KNOW WAS THE BELOVED CHIEF OF STAFF TO PRESIDENT GEORGE HW BUSH.
OH MY GOODNESS, YOU GOTTA LOVE THE HOUSTON WEATHER.
IT'S COOPERATING THIS MORNING, RIGHT? WHAT A LOVELY SETTING FOR THIS MOST AUSPICIOUS OCCASION.
IT IS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME YOU TO 41 AT 100, AND IT SEEMS ONLY FITTING THAT THE BUSH'S HOMETOWN LEAD THE WAY AND HELP KICK OFF HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY WEEK.
AND WHAT A JOY TO HAVE THE BUSH'S FAVORITE MUSICAL THEATER TROUPE, THE TUTS ACADEMY ENSEMBLE, PROVIDING THE MUSIC FOR TODAY.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL PERFORMERS AND THEIR DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, JACOB SCHEIDLER, FOR PROVIDING A TRUE BUSH TOUCH TO OUR EVENT THIS MORNING.
AND NOW IF YOU ARE ABLE, PLEASE STAND FOR THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS BY THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, HONOR GUARD AND THE NATIONAL ANTHEM PERFORMED BY OUR FRIENDS WITH THE TUTS MUSICAL THEATER ACADEMY ENSEMBLE COLOR.
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YOU MAY BE SEATED.AND NOW TO DELIVER THE INVOCATION TO WELCOME PASTOR COREY WILSON OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.
FATHER, AS WE COME TODAY, WHAT A GREAT DAY.
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, YOU DECIDED TO THROW A PEBBLE WITH THE NAME OF GEORGE HW BUSH INTO THE OCEANS OF LIFE.
AND A HUNDRED YEARS LATER, THE RIPPLES OF THAT PEBBLE THAT WAS TOSSED INTO THE OCEAN OF LIFE IS STILL CARRYING ON TO THE BANKS ACROSS THE WORLD TODAY.
MY HEAVENLY FATHER TO THE 41ST, TO HIS FAMILY, TO HIS FRIENDS, TO EVERYONE HE WAS ABLE TO IMPACT IN ANY WAY WE COME TODAY, TO CELEBRATE AND TO REMEMBER ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT YOU ALLOWED THIS GREAT INDIVIDUAL TO DO.
BUT WE ASK YOU NOW AS WE PROCEED WITH THIS GREAT PROGRAM TO COVER US RIGHT NOW IN YOUR PRECIOUS BLOOD.
LORD, LET THIS DAY, LET THIS PROGRAM BE A WONDERFUL DAY IN PROGRAM THAT WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS WE REMEMBER ALL OF THE WORK AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WAS TOUCHED.
FATHER, BLESS US, WATCH OVER US AND WE BIND ANYTHING THAT IS NOT OF YOU.
PUT A COVERING OF ANGELS AROUND US AND THIS PROGRAM, LET US LEAVE WITH SMILES AND WITH WARM HEARTS.
AND REMEMBER THAT AS A TEAM, AS A COUNTRY, WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE ASK ALL THIS IN YOUR WONDERFUL NAME.
JESUS CHRIST, LET US SAY AMEN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH PASTOR WILSON.
ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, OUR NEXT SPEAKER AND HIS LOVELY WIFE TOOK ON A CHALLENGE TO COME TO HOUSTON AND LEAD THE CHARGE TOWARD THIS WEEK.
THEY HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TOWARD MAKING THIS WEEK THE TREMENDOUS SUCCESS THAT WE ALL KNOW IT WILL BE.
BEGINNING OF COURSE, WITH THIS AUSPICIOUS EVENT.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME TO THE PODIUM SECRETARY ANDY CARD, CEO OF THE GEORGE AND BARBARA BUSH FOUNDATION.
I BRING WORDS FROM COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, BUT MY VOICE WILL FREQUENTLY SHIFT TO MASSACHUSETTS PARKING THE CAR IN HARVARD YARD.
AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY APPROPRIATE.
AND TO THE PEOPLE THAT HELP PUT THIS TOGETHER, I SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M HONORED THAT THE FAMILY IS HERE.
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT ABOUT 1500 MILES AWAY, THERE'S A COMMUNITY THAT IS ALSO GETTING TOGETHER THIS NEXT WEEK TO CELEBRATE 40 ONE'S BIRTH.
IT'S THE TOWN OF MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
AND I REMEMBER WHEN HE ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE PARK PARKER HOTEL IN BOSTON.
THEY PARKED THE CAR IN HARVARD YARD THERE TOO.
HE WAS ASKED BY A REPORTER AFTER HE GAVE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT ADDRESS SAYING THAT HE WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
AND THE REPORTER ASKED A QUESTION, WHY WERE YOU BORN IN MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS? HIS RESPONSE WAS JUST REMARKABLE.
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SAID, I WANTED TO BE CLOSE TO MY MOTHERTHE TRUTH IS HE COULDN'T WAIT TO GET TO TEXAS AND HE GOT TO TEXAS AND HOUSTON IS HIS HOME.
MAYOR WHITMEYER, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU'VE GIVEN, NOT JUST TO HOUSTON, BUT TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.
PRESIDENT BUSH LOVED TEXAS, HE LOVED HOUSTON.
YES, HE WAS BORN IN MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS, BUT THIS WAS HIS HOME AND HE COULDN'T WAIT TO GET HERE.
AND YOU KNOW THAT HE WAS CHALLENGED BECAUSE HE HAD TO LIVE IN MIDLAND BEFORE HE MADE IT TO HOUSTON.
BUT HOUSTON BECAME THE GROUNDING PLACE FOR HIS TENURE LEADING THIS NOT ONLY COUNTRY, BUT LEADING THIS WORLD.
PRESIDENT BUSH, YES, WOULD BE A HUNDRED YEARS OLD ON JUNE 12TH.
WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY, OBVIOUSLY BY GATHERING HERE WHERE WE GET TO CELEBRATE A REMARKABLE SCULPTURE THAT REALLY CAPTURES HIM FOR ALL TO SEA.
AND I'M SO IMPRESSED THAT HE CAN LOOK DOWN THE WAY AND SEE JIM BAKKER STARING BACK AT HIM.
TWO REMARKABLE PEOPLE THAT GIVE DEFINITION TO NOBLE PUBLIC SERVICE.
NOBLE PUBLIC SERVICE IS WHAT WE'LL BE CELEBRATING IN COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS STARTING TOMORROW.
WHEN WE GATHERED SOMETIMES AS ALUMNI OF THE BUSH ORGANIZATIONS, WHETHER IT WAS CAMPAIGNS OR SERVICE IN THE GOVERNMENT.
AND JUST REMEMBER GEORGE HW BUSH SERVED IN MORE PUBLIC SERVICE ROLES THAN ANY OTHER SITTING PRESIDENT EVER.
AND HE GAVE US THE EXAMPLE OF NOBLE PUBLIC SERVICE.
AND WE ARE GONNA CELEBRATE HIS LEGACY OF SERVICE BY INVITING PEOPLE TO COME TO THE PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND COLLEGE STATION WHERE THEY CAN SEE EVERYTHING THAT HE DID IS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
AND AS HE WOULD SAY TO ME, IF THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT I DID, THEY GO TO THE LIBRARY.
IT'S ALL THERE IN THE NEXT BUILDING.
RIGHT NEXT TO THE LIBRARY IS THE GEORGE BUSH SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE, THE LEGACY OF PRESIDENT BUSH.
THERE IS A LIVING LEGACY EVERY GRADUATE THAT COMES OUT OF THAT SCHOOL.
AND IT'S THE ONLY SCHOOL IN AMERICA WHO IS A SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE IS A LIVING LEGACY TO PRESIDENT BUSH.
AND RIGHT NOW THERE ARE 350 GRADUATES OF THAT SCHOOL ALREADY WORKING IN NOBLE PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, A NUMBER GREATER THAN ANY OTHER PUBLIC POLICY SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY.
SO WE'LL BE CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF PRESIDENT BUSH, YES, THE LEGACY OF THE PAST, BUT WE'LL ALSO BE CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF THE FUTURE.
AND I'M GLAD TO SAY THAT WE DON'T JUST LIMIT IT TO THOSE STUDENTS AT THE BUSH SCHOOL.
WE ALSO POINT OUT HOW MANY MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF POINTS OF LIGHT THERE ARE AROUND THE WORLD.
JUST BECAUSE GEORGE HW BUSH SAID, BE A POINT OF LIGHT.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN HELPING US TO REMEMBER PRESIDENT BUSH IN THE GREAT SERVICE HE GAVE.
I'M PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL TO AMBASSADOR AND SHAAH ANSI FOR BEING PART OF THE CELEBRATION OF EVERY ASPECT OF PRESIDENT BUSH'S LIFE SINCE HE RETIRED AS PRESIDENT.
SO HUSAIN, AMBASSADOR HUSSEIN, ANSI AND SHAAH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH WITH THAT.
I INVITE YOU TO COME TO COLLEGE STATION.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU WILL NOT SHOW UP, SOME OF YOU BOUGHT TICKETS AND STILL WON'T SHOW UP.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW WE'LL BE GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE HERE IN HOUSTON TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF PRESIDENT BUSH AND BARBARA BUSH.
AND WE ASK YOU TO KEEP JIM BAKKER IN YOUR PRAYERS.
HE'LL BE IN COLLEGE STATION IN PERSON TO PAY A VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT'S GRAVE.
AND I'D INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME AND PAY TRIBUTE AS WELL BY CELEBRATING 41 AT A HUNDRED.
JUST SO ELOQUENT TO ELOQUENTLY TALKED ABOUT THE LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT MANY OF YOU IN THIS AUDIENCE TODAY ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS.
SO I'D LIKE TO GIVE A PARTICULAR SHOUT OUT TO OUR COUNSELOR CORPS, OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, OUR MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
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THANK YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.ANDY ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION AND ALL OF THE AMAZING WORK THAT THEY DID TO BRING THIS EVENT TO YOU AND, AND ALSO OF COURSE TO OVERSEE THE BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS THAT UH, WE ARE SITTING HERE ON TODAY.
NOW TO WELCOME TO THE PODIUM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION, MICHAEL HECKMAN.
AND LINDA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT KIND INTRODUCTION.
UM, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DO AT HOUSTON FIRST WITHOUT OUR FANTASTIC TEAM MEMBERS THAT ULTIMATELY MADE THIS HAPPEN TODAY.
AND WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO ANY OF THAT IF IT WEREN'T FOR LEADERSHIP.
UH, LEADERSHIP OF MAYOR WHITMEYER.
MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY AND FOR HOUSTON.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WANNA RECOGNIZE TWO OF MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S APPOINTEES TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
FIRST ARE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, JAY ZEIDMAN.
AND ALSO ROXANNE NEWMAN IS HERE TODAY.
ROXANNE, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
IT REALLY IS A PRIVILEGE, UH, FOR US TO BE HERE, UH, AND FOR ME TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO SUSKIN CENTENNIAL PARK, UH, FOR THIS MONUMENT.
HONORING OUR NATION'S 41ST PRESIDENT AND A TRUE AMERICAN STATESMAN.
WE'RE PLEASED TO CO-HOST TODAY'S CELEBRATION ALONGSIDE THE GEORGE AND BARBARA BUSH FOUNDATION.
I ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT AND RECOGNIZE THE PERSON THAT SPEARHEADED THE CREATION OF THIS MONUMENT.
20 YEARS AGO, CHARLES FOSTER CHARLES LED THE COMMITTEE THAT RAISED THE FUNDS TO HAVE THIS MONUMENT BUILT, HONORING OUR 41ST PRESIDENT, AND HAS PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN DEVELOPING SEVERAL OTHER MONUMENTS HONORING OUR NATION'S PAST LEADERS.
CHARLES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND THESE TRIBUTES TO MAKE THESE GREAT AMERICANS A REALITY.
WE GATHER THIS MORNING TO COMMEMORATE THE CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY OF A REMARKABLE MAN WHO LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON OUR NATION ON TEXAS AND ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
PRESIDENT GEORGE HW BUSH WAS A WORLD LEADER, BUT HE, HE AND FIRST LADY BARBARA BUSH WERE CHERISHED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND TWO OF THE BEST AMBASSADORS THAT HOUSTON HAS EVER HAD.
THEY KNEW OUR CITY WELL, HAVING MADE A HOME HERE BEFORE WASHINGTON AND HAD BEEN DEEPLY ENGAGED IN BUSINESS, POLITICAL, AND CIVIC LIFE, CERTAINLY PRESIDENT BUSH HELPED SHAPE THE HOUSTON.
WE KNOW TODAY, FIRST AS A BUSINESSMAN AND LATER A CONGRESSMAN REPRESENTING THIS REGION IN THE YEARS AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE, WHEN THE PRESIDENT MRS. BUSH RETURNED TO HOUSTON, THEY DIDN'T JUST LIVE HERE.
THEY EMBRACED THE CITY AS A VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC COMMUNITY AND THEY WERE PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT.
WHETHER IT WAS CHEERING ON THE ASTROS OR DINING AT SOME OF THEIR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS.
SOME YEARS AGO, OUR PREDECESSOR ORGANIZATION APPROACHED THE COUPLE ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN A MARKETING CAMPAIGN PROMOTING THE CITY AS A TRAVEL DESTINATION.
FOR THOSE THAT KNOW THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW THEM WELL, THEY READILY SAID YES.
AND THEY SPOKE SO AUTHENTICALLY ABOUT LOVING THEIR HOUSTON, A PLACE THAT THEY LOVED AND CALLED HOME.
AS WE REFLECT ON PRESIDENT BUSH'S LIFE AND LEGACY, WE'RE REMINDED OF HIS DEDICATION TO SERVICE, HIS STEADFAST DIPLOMACY, AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, HIS LOVE FOR HIS FELLOW AMERICANS AND HIS FELLOW HOUSTONIANS.
HIS AND MRS. BUSH'S LIVES AND SERVICE WILL FOREVER BE WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF THIS CITY.
LET US HONOR THAT LEGACY AND INDEED THE PRESIDENT'S LOVE FOR HOUSTON BY CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS THE DYNAMIC, DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE CITY THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE VALUES THAT HE HELD.
THERE ARE MANY WELL-KNOWN STORIES ABOUT THE UNIQUE AND CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRESIDENT AND MRS. BUSH AND THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS UNION, AS WELL AS PASTOR WILSON AND MANY OTHER MINISTERS.
WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE WITH US TODAY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER UNION RAY HUNT.
PLEASE WELCOME HIM TO THE STAGE.
I'VE ASKED, UH, OUR CHAPLAIN HERE, COREY WILSON TO COME WITH ME BECAUSE A COUPLE OF THESE STORIES INVOLVE HIM.
UM, I GUESS PROBABLY NINE YEARS AGO NOW, NINE OR 10 YEARS AGO, A MENTOR OF BOTH OF US.
HIS NAME WAS, UH, BISHOP FLOYD LEWIS.
HE WAS A BIG CIVIL RIGHTS ICON AROUND THE HOUSTON AREA.
AND HE CAME TO THE HPLU AND HE WANTED TO SPONSOR A, WANTED US TO HELP HIM SPONSOR A PROGRAM CALLED THE THUMBS
[00:20:01]
UP CAMPAIGN, WHICH WOULD SEE FIRST RESPONDERS ON THE STREET AND GIVE 'EM A THUMBS UP, MADE A CHOICE, A CHALLENGE COIN FOR HIM, AND GIVE 'EM THAT COIN.SO HE BROUGHT, UH, PASTOR WILSON IN WITH HIM.
THAT'S WHEN I FIRST MET THEM AND SAID, YOU THINK THERE'S ANY WAY WE COULD GET A MEETING WITH FORMER PRESIDENT BUSH WHO RETIRED HERE TO HOUSTON? SO I REACHED OUT TO MY GREAT FRIEND JIM MCGRATH, WHO'S HERE SOMEWHERE, AND ASKED IF HE COULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
HE SAID, YEAH, UH, SEND ME THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA COME.
SO I SENT HIM THE FIVE OF US THAT, THAT WERE PLANNING TO BE THERE.
AND UH, WE SHOWED UP, CAME IN THERE AND HE IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED BISHOP FLOYD LEWIS AND SAID, YOU AND I BACK IN THE LATE SIXTIES WERE OVER ON LINES AVENUE HANDING OUT PAMPHLETS ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS, IS THE FIRST TIME WE EVER MET.
WELL, NEEDLESS TO SAY, NONE OF US HAD ANY CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT.
THE TWO OF THEM TALKED TOGETHER FOR THE ENTIRE TIME THAT WE WERE ALLOTTED, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ONLY 15 MINUTES, BUT I THINK WE WERE THERE OVER AN HOUR.
WE WALKED OUT OF THERE AND ALL OF US JUST SAID, THIS WAS LIKE WE WERE JUST SITTING DOWN TALKING TO OUR DAD, LIKE TALKING TO THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR.
JUST A GENUINE GREAT GUY WHO SAID, OF COURSE I'M IN ON THIS.
SO HE SUPPORTED US COMPLETELY.
OH, HE ALSO SAID THAT WHEN BUSH WAS OUT THERE CAMPAIGNING ON, OR, UH, YEAH, PROBABLY CAMPAIGNING, BUT PASSING OUT LITERATURE ON LINES AVENUE, HE HAD A YOUNG MAN WITH HIM, HIS SON AND FLOYD LEWIS SAID, LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT BOTH OF THOSE TWO MEN WOULD BE FUTURE PRESIDENTS.
THE NEXT THING THAT WE DID WAS A PRAY FOR POLICE CAMPAIGN.
I THINK I HAVE IT ON HE PRAY FOR POLICE BANS THAT WE DID WERE A BIG HIT SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE WEARING THEM AND WE TRIED TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE TO WEAR 'EM AND TO POST IT ON FACEBOOK SO THAT IT WOULD, IT WOULD TAKE OFF.
SO AGAIN, I REACHED OUT TO JIM MCGRATH AND SAID, HEY, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT I COULD GET TWO OF THESE BANDS TO THE PRESIDENT AND AND MRS. BUSH TO SEE IF THEY WOULD WEAR THESE AND TAKE A PICTURE THAT WE COULD POST? HE SAID, WELL, THEY'RE IN KENNY BUNK PORT, BUT I'M GONNA GIVE YOU AN ADDRESS.
MAIL THESE TWO BANDS TO THIS ADDRESS AND I'LL MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SO NOT TOO LONG AFTER THAT, I RECEIVED THIS PICTURE OF BARBARA AND GEORGE BUSH WEARING OUR PRAY FOR POLICE BANDS.
REALLY, REALLY A TREAT FOR US.
AND IT JUST TOOK OFF FROM THERE.
WE HAD CHURCHES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY CALLING TO ASK US IF THEY COULD HAVE BAGS OF THE BANDS.
WE MAILED 'EM OUT ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND THAT CHRISTMAS I RECEIVED A CHRISTMAS CARD AND THAT WAS ON THE FRONT OF THE CHRISTMAS CARD FROM THE BUSHES.
THE LAST THING I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS THE BUSH PROTECTION DETAIL WAS, UH, WHEN THEY FIRST CAME HERE TO HOUSTON, APPARENTLY I NEVER WENT TO THE HOUSE THAT HE WAS AT HERE, BUT APPARENTLY THERE WAS A GARAGE APARTMENT OR SOMETHING WHERE THE DETAIL CAMPED OUT IN, UM, THEY NEEDED SOME MONEY TO RENOVATE IT.
SO THEY DID A FUNDRAISER OUT A GOLF COURSE, AND I HAPPENED TO GET SELECTED TO BE THE POLICE OFFICER, UH, TO, TO DO THE SECURITY LIKE HE NEEDED IT WITH ALL THE SECRET SERVICE WHO WERE THERE DURING THAT TIME.
HE, UH, HE WAS TAKING PICTURES FOR A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
YOU COULD TAKE A PICTURE WITH HIM AND THEY WOULD GIVE YOU A BUSH PROTECTION DETAIL SHIRT FOR THE A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
SO THEY FINISH AND I'M STANDING THERE WATCHING AND HE GOES, UH, OFFICER, WOULD YOU LIKE A, LIKE A PICTURE? AND I GO, WELL, I'M MAKING A HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THIS GIG, SO I GUESS, I GUESS I COULD DO IT.
BUT HE GOES, NO, NO, IT'S FREE TO YOU COME OVER HERE.
SO WE TAKE A PICTURE TOGETHER.
THIS PICTURE HERE, I I WAS A LOT THINNER THEN AND ACTUALLY WORE A UNIFORM MAYOR.
UM, WE TOOK THAT PICTURE AND HE GOES, GET HIM A, GET HIM A SHIRT TOO.
AND THE LADY SAID, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE SHIRTS.
AND HE GOES, I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
HE DIDN'T COME BACK, BUT SOMEONE ELSE CAME BACK AND SAID HE CHANGED AND GAVE YOU HIS.
SO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES GAVE ME THE SHIRT OFF HIS BACK.
'CAUSE THAT'S JUST THE KIND OF PERSON THAT HE WAS ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS UNION AND THE ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR ACTING POLICE CHIEF HERE.
UH, I JUST WANNA THANK THE BUSH FAMILY FOR SHARING YOUR FATHER WITH US, NOT JUST HIS COUNTRY, THE STATE, THE CITY, BUT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY WERE SO, SO SPECIAL TO US AND WE WILL NEVER EVER FORGET 'EM.
SO THE NEXT ICON THAT I'M GONNA INTRODUCE NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION.
UM, HE IS JUST AS GENEROUS AS GEORGE BUSH WAS, JUST AS GOOD TO THE POLICE AS GEORGE BUSH HAS EVER BEEN, AND JUST A GREAT, GREAT FRIEND TO ME AND TO THE ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HE DROVE ALL THE WAY IN FROM 6,006 I 45 NORTH BETWEEN TED.
ONE PARKER NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION.
IT'S AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TODAY WITH ALL THESE GREAT PEOPLE AS WE REMEMBER THE GREAT MAN PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH.
I, UM, YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S SAID THAT WE DON'T LIVE IN THE PAST, BUT THE PAST LIVES IN US AND, UH, THE INFLUENCE OF GEORGE AND BARBARA BUSH WILL EVER FOREVER LIVE IN MY WIFE AND MYSELF'S LIVES.
HE DID SO MUCH, HE HELPED SO MANY PEOPLE.
AS WE LOOK ON THE POLITICAL SCENE TODAY WITH LOTS OF DIVISIVENESS ON BOTH SIDES,
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PRESIDENT BUSH BOUGHT A CALMING EFFECT TO EVERYTHING.SO I ASKED MY WIFE LINDA, WHETHER HER FOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES OF PRESIDENT BUSH AND SHE SENT 'EM TO ME.
SHE SAID, NUMBER ONE, WE HAD A, WE HOSTED THE DAVIS CUP TENNIS MATCH IN HOUSTON MANY YEARS AGO, AND PRESIDENT MRS. BUSH GAVE A COCKTAIL RECEPTION AT THEIR HOME FOR PETE SAMPRAS AND ALL THESE US TENNIS PLAYERS.
AND MY WIFE WAS AMAZED, AS WAS I, OUR PRESIDENT BUSH SAID THAT WAS AMAZING THAT HE GOT TO MEET ALL THESE TENNIS PLAYERS.
MY WIFE SAID THE FUNNIEST MOMENT SHE EVER HAD WITH PRESIDENT BUSH WAS IN HIS BOAT AT KENNY BUNK PORT SAYING HOW HE HOPED HE COULD OUTRA THE SECRET SERVICE.
AND OF COURSE HE WAS ALWAYS SO PROUD OF HIS CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, BUT THE FAVORITE THING SHE STILL TAKES AWAY WAS WATCHING HIS FACE DURING THE PLAYING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.
AND GOD BLESS AMERICA AND TEARS WELLING UP IN HIS EYES A TRUE PATRIOT.
FOR MY STANDPOINT, IT'S AMAZING TO ME THAT WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH WAS 20 YEARS OLD AND MOST OF US WERE JUST COLLEGE KIDS, HE GOT SHOT DOWN IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND WAS RESCUED BY A NAVAL SHIP, A NAVAL SUBMARINE.
HE WAS 20 YEARS OLD WHEN HE GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE.
HE LEFT THE SAFETY OF HIS HOME IN THE NORTHEAST AND JOURNEYED ALL THE WAY TO MIDLAND TO SEEK HIS FORTUNE.
THAT WOULD BE LIKE SOMEBODY FROM HOUSTON TODAY, FROM A PROMINENT FAMILY MOVING TO SILICON VALLEY TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR.
PRESIDENT BUSH WAS NOT ONLY A GREAT PUBLIC SERVANT AND HE WAS A GREAT ENTREPRENEUR.
I ASKED HIM MANY YEARS AGO IF HE WOULD HELP US IN THE BUSH CLINTON TSUNAMI FUND.
HE SAID, OF COURSE, AND THROUGH HIS EFFORTS, WE RAISED $15 MILLION FOR THAT FUND.
GEORGE BUSH WAS A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS.
HE WAS A MAN THAT DID SO MUCH FOR SO MANY.
HE AND MRS. BUSH USED TO WRITE THANK YOU NOTES TO EVERYBODY THEY CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE DAY BEFORE.
MY WIFE AND I PROBABLY GOT 30 DIFFERENT THANK YOU NOTES FROM PRESIDENT MRS. BUSH BECAUSE THAT'S WHO THEY WERE.
SO TODAY WE REMEMBER, WE CELEBRATE, WE BELIEVE THIS GREAT MAN NAMED GEORGE BUSH.
WE CELEBRATE SO MANY GREAT THINGS HE DID IN THE WAY HE LIVED HIS LIFE.
AND WE PRAY THAT ALL OF US CAN LEARN AND BE BETTER BECAUSE OF HIM.
I MENTIONED THE PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE WITH US TODAY.
THERE'S BEEN REFERENCE TO POINTS OF LIGHT.
UM, WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE A LEADER OF OUR CITY WHO HAS LITERALLY DEDICATED THE VAST MAJORITY OF HIS LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, JOHN WHITMEYER.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED MORE DAYS LIKE THIS.
MOST DAYS I DEAL WITH PROBLEMS TRYING TO CLEAN UP SOME MESSES THAT MOST MAJOR CITIES HAVE AND I'VE INHERITED MY SHARE.
BUT WE NEED MORE DAYS LIKE THIS WHERE WE COME TOGETHER AS HOUSTONIANS FOR A COMMON BOND TO RECOGNIZE NOT ONLY A HOUSTONIAN HERO, BUT A NATIONAL HERO.
YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HERE HAS A PERSONAL STORY ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND CONTACT WITH PRESIDENT BUSH BECAUSE I'M MAYOR.
I GET TO TELL YOU MINE, IN 1968, I WAS A GRADUATE AT WALTER HIGH SCHOOL IN NORTHWEST HOUSTON, ALREADY HAD THE POLITICAL BUG TAKING DEBATE AND HISTORY CLASSES, AND I CAME OUT IN THE FALL OF 68 BEAUTIFUL DAY.
AND I SEE THIS CANDIDATE, WHICH I'D NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND HAVEN'T SINCE.
PRESIDENT BUSH WAS IN A VERY TOUGH RACE.
YOU KNOW, HE WAS, IF NOT THE FIRST, IN FACT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND DECLARE HIM.
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CONGRESSIONAL LEADER, BILL ARCHER, FOLLOWED HIM LATER.ANOTHER GREAT HERO, BUT PRESIDENT BUSH WAS MY CONGRESSMAN AND I HAD THE POLITICAL BUG AND I WATCHED HIM, NEIL GOING UP AND DOWN 34TH SHAKING HANDS WITH THE MOTHERS, PICKING UP THEIR KIDS AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE YOU NEVER KNOW HOW YOU'RE INFLUENCING SOMEONE IN YOUR DAILY LIFE IN YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES.
HE PLANTED AND INSPIRED THE SEED THAT FOUR YEARS LATER I WAS ELECTED STATE REPRESENTATIVE.
I NOT ONLY WATCHED HIM CAMPAIGN IN A VERY UNIQUE PERSONAL RETAIL FASHION, NOT KNOCKING DOORS, SAYING HELLO TO MOTHERS, PICKING UP THEIR KIDS, WAITING AT WALTER PACO ON 34TH STREET.
BUT HE ALSO INSPIRED ME FROM THAT EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO TO SAVE THE LETTER THAT HE WROTE ME AS MY CONGRESSMAN WHEN I WAS A SENIOR.
FOUR YEARS LATER, THROUGH SOME OF THAT EX INSPIRATION AND EXPERIENCE I RAN FOR OFFICE AND I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT I, AND MOST OF US HERE, IN FACT I'LL SAY ALL OF US ARE ONE OF HIS THOUSAND POINTS OF LIFE.
YOU SEE, PRESIDENT BUSH KNEW THAT WE'RE ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS.
AS I LOOK INTO YOUR EYES, YOU'RE ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS, WHETHER YOU'RE EVER ON THE BALLOT OR NOT, AND YOU'RE PLACED IN OFFICE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, DO THE RIGHT THING.
LET ME GIVE YOU ONE SMALL BIG EXAMPLE.
CAN'T BE BOTH, BUT IT'S A BIG EXAMPLE.
I REMEMBER HIS 68 CAMPAIGN, YOU KNOW, THE HOTTEST ISSUE HE HAD VOTED FOR OPEN HOUSING.
NOW HOUSTON WAS NOT AS DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE AS IT IS TODAY.
THAT DIDN'T GO OVER WELL FRED IN OAK FOREST AND GARDEN OAKS.
IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A TOUGH AND RIGHT VOTE TO INTEGRATE PUBLIC HOUSING.
HE CAUGHT A LOT, A LOT OF FLACK, BUT HE REMEMBERED WHAT SAM HOUSTON SAID, DO THE RIGHT THING AND SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES.
I KNOW FOR A FACT AS A STUDENT OF HISTORY, HE WAS THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON TO BE PRESIDENT IN RECENT HISTORY.
AND WE NEED TO LEARN AND OUR DUTY IS, IS TO KEEP HIS LEGACY ALIVE.
IT'S NOT GONNA DO ANY GOOD FOR US TO SIT HERE AND TALK TO EACH OTHER.
WE'VE GOTTA SPREAD IT ACROSS HOUSTON.
OUR NEW ARRIVALS TALK ABOUT THE LEGACY OF BARBARA BUSH IN EDUCATION AND PRESIDENT BUSH WITH INCLUSIVENESS.
SO I'M GONNA CLOSE BY SAYING THE BEST WAY WE CAN HONOR HIM IS TO GET OUTTA THIS HEAT AND GO TO WORK.
BEFORE WE GET OUT OF THE HEAT AND GO TO WORK, MAYOR, WE DO HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER.
I HAD THE, UH, PLEASURE OF SITTING ON A STAGE WITH HIM MAYBE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
UM, THOSE OF US WHO WERE GATHERED ON STAGE WERE AT THE HOUSTONIAN.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HER INCREDIBLE NEW BOOK, CHARACTER MATTERS.
THE MAYOR JUST GAVE US AN EXAMPLE OF PRESIDENT BUSH'S CHARACTER DO THE RIGHT THING AND SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES.
THAT'S WHO WE WAS AS WE WERE SHARING OUR STORIES.
ONE OF THOSE WHO WAS ON STAGE AND I SEE A LOT OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE WERE THERE THAT NIGHT.
UM, AND IT WAS SO TOUCHING TO HEAR HIM TALK FROM HIS HEART ABOUT HIS GRANDFATHER AND WHO HE WAS AND WHAT HE MEANT TO HIM PERSONALLY AND TO THE FAMILY.
AND THERE WAS NOT A DRY EYE IN THE HOUSE WHEN IT WAS OVER.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME THE CEO OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF LONE STAR, MY FRIEND PIERCE BUSH.
UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, THANK YOU FOR SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
ALL THE SPEAKERS, MATTRESS, MAC RAY, PASTOR SECRETARY CARD.
UM, ON BEHALF OF MY DAD, NEIL BUSH, MY STEPMOM MARIA, MY SISTER LAUREN.
UM, IT IS AN HONOR THAT ALL OF YOU CAME OUT HERE TO BATTLE THE HEAT FOR US TO HONOR THIS VERY GOOD MAN WHOSE STATUE STANDS BEHIND ME.
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, MY GRANDFATHER GEORGE HW BUSH, WAS BORN TO DOROTHY WALKER AND PRESCOTT BUSH.
I IMAGINE MY GRANDPARENTS HAD NO IDEA ON THAT.
MASSACHUSETTS, JUNE SUMMER MORNING, THEIR LITTLE BABY BOY WOULD ONE DAY GROW UP TO BE THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD.
THAT SAID, IN HIS EARLIEST DAYS, GAMPY AS
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HIS GRANDKIDS CALLED HIM LATER, WAS NOTED AS BEING A SPECIAL AND THOUGHTFUL CHILD.HE HAD AN UNCANNY ABILITY TO FEEL WHAT OTHERS WERE FEELING TO PUT HIMSELF IN THE OTHER GUY'S SHOES AS HE WOULD CALL IT LATER IN LIFE.
IN FACT, HE HAD SUCH A PROCLIVITY TO SHARE HIS TOYS AND SNACKS WITH HIS YOUNG FRIENDS THAT HE EARNED A NICKNAME FROM THEM, HALF, HALF AT THE TIME.
MY GRANDFATHER WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT IN NOVEMBER, 1988 AT AN ELECTION BEAUTY PARTY NOT FAR AWAY FROM WHERE WE ARE.
HIS YOUNGER SISTER, NANCY ELLIS, OBSERVED WHAT AN AMAZING REFLECTION OF THE GOODNESS OF OUR COUNTRY TO ELECT TO THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE LAND.
A MAN AS GOOD AND AS KIND AS MY BROTHER GEORGE.
TO THOSE OF US WHO KNEW HIM WELL AND LOVED HIM DEARLY.
HE EXUDED A CONSTANT AURA OF DECENCY, HONOR, THOUGHTFULNESS, AND KINDNESS, AND IT WAS ALL VERY GENUINE.
SPENDING TIME WITH HIM WAS SIMILAR TO THAT FEELING.
YOU GET ON A MUCH COOLER TEXAS WINTER DAY WHEN THE SUN HITS YOUR BACK AND YOU FEEL ALL WILL BE OKAY IN THE WORLD.
SURE HE WAS COMPETITIVE AND TRIED VERY HARD TO WIN.
HE WAS HUMAN AFTER ALL, BUT ONCE IN A POSITION OF TRUST, WHETHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE.
HE ALWAYS DID WHAT WAS BEST FOR OTHERS OFTEN AND EVEN TO THE DETRIMENT OR POTENTIAL RISK OF HIS CAREER OR HIS PERSONAL PATH FORWARD.
HE HAD INTEGRITY AND GOOD CHARACTER, LOADS OF IT.
THERE ARE MANY LESSONS FROM THE 94 AND A HALF YEARS OF A VERY WELL LI LIVED LIFE THAT MY GAMPI LIVE THAT WE CAN ALL REFLECT ON AND USE AS WE ARE ALL TRUSTED AS FELLOW CITIZENS TO KEEP THIS THE GREATEST EXPERIMENT ALIVE THAT OF OUR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WANNA SHARE JUST THREE.
FIRST, WE SHOULD ALWAYS DO WHAT'S RIGHT OVER WHAT'S EASY.
I THINK BACK AND MAYOR REFLECTED ON THIS TO WHAT HE CONSIDERED ONE OF HIS GREATEST EARLY POLITICAL TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS HIS VOTE IN 1968 AS A YOUNG CONGRESSMAN FROM HOUSTON TO PASS THE EQUAL HOUSING CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION AT THE TIME, MANY OF HIS CONSTITUENTS WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THIS VOTE.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, HE WALKED INTO MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL TO HOST A TOWN HALL, INITIALLY RECEIVING LOTS OF BOOZE AND HECKLING, NOT KNOWN NECESSARILY AS A GREAT ORDER.
HE DECIDED TO SHARE THE HUMAN SIDE OF WHY THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION WAS RIGHT AND TOLD THE GROW CROWD STORIES OF THE DIVERSITY OF THE TROOPS HE HAD VISITED RECENTLY IN VIETNAM WHO ARE RISKING THEIR LIVES AND DYING IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY.
HE BELIEVED ALL SHOULD HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS WHEN RETURNING HOME AND THE LAW SHOULD ENSURE THEY DO.
MUCH TO HIS SURPRISE, HE RECEIVED A STANDING OVATION FROM THE CROWD AND HAD TURNED THEM COMPLETELY AROUND ON THE ISSUE.
THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF HIS USING HIS POWER OR HIS OFFICE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT OVER WHAT'S EASY AS PRESIDENT, HE PASSED THE LAST MAJOR CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION, THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, WHICH HAS TORN DOWN SO MANY SHAMEFUL WALLS OF EXCLUSION FOR A POPULATION WHO HAS MANY GIFTS TO OFFER OUR SOCIETY.
OF COURSE, HE PERHAPS WAS MADE A ONE TERM PRESIDENT WHEN HE DECIDED TO COMPROMISE ON A BUDGET SPENDING REDUCTION AGREEMENT WITH MINOR TAX CONCESSIONS, WHICH THAT DRASTICALLY CUT FEDERAL SPENDING AND ULTIMATELY PUT THE GOVERNMENT ON A PATH TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET LATER IN THAT DECADE.
DOING WHAT'S RIGHT WAS INGRAINED IN HIM AT HIS CORE.
SECOND LESSON, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIPS AND POSITIVE HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS TO CHANGE THE WORLD.
MY GRANDFATHER WAS A MASTER PEOPLE PERSON.
HE LOVED AND WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN OTHERS NO MATTER WHO THEY WERE OR WHAT THEIR STATION WAS IN LIFE.
GPI LOVED THE MANY FRIENDS THAT HOUSTON BROUGHT HIM, AND MANY STAYED FRIENDS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
I THINK OF COURSE, OF JAMES BAKER, BOB MOSBACHER, AMBASSADOR, AN SORRY VA CHASE, HUNTER MEYER.
BUT ALSO I THINK OF PEOPLE LIKE DON RHODES, ONE OF MY GRANDFATHER'S BEST FRIENDS WHO GREW UP IN A ROUGH CHILDHOOD HERE IN HOUSTON AND AFTER WORKING FOR MY GRANDFATHER'S CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN, NEVER LEFT HIS SIDE.
OR PAOLO RENDON WHO CAME OVER TO JOIN OUR FAMILY WITH A WORK VISA FROM MEXICO WHEN MY DAD WAS THREE IN 1958 AND STAYED WITH MY GRANDPARENTS UNTIL THEIR PASSING.
SHE EVEN LIVED IN THE WHITE HOUSE WITH THEM.
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BUT IT WAS HIS FRIENDSHIP AND HIS ABILITY TO CREATE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS ON THE WORLD STAGE THAT MATTERS MOST TO FREEDOM LOVING PEOPLE WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE HIS TACTFUL HANDLING OF THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL AND ENDING OF THE COLD WAR WITH NO BULLETS BEING FIRED.HE USED HIS RELATIONSHIP SKILLS TO BUILD UP A 42 NATION COALITION, THE LARGEST THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN TO PUSH SADDAM HUSSEIN OUTTA KUWAIT.
WHEN HISTORIANS LOOK BACK AT BOTH OF THESE SUCCESSFUL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, IT WAS THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS AND FRIENDSHIPS THAT MY GRANDFATHER CREATED THAT MADE THESE TWO THINGS SO SUCCESSFUL.
THIRD LESSON, WHEN THE SUN COMES UP IN THE MORNING, A BRIGHT NEW DAY EMBRACES US ALL.
MY GRANDFATHER ACTUALLY WROTE THOSE WORDS AS PART OF A LONGER LETTER TO CHEER ME UP WHEN I CRASHED HIS PRIZE BOAT ON THE UNK PORT ROCKS MANY SUMMERS AGO.
BUT I HAVE SINCE REALIZED THERE IS A MUCH DEEPER MEANING AND LESSONS FROM HIS OWN LIFE AND THE WORDS THAT ARE P PERTINENT TO ALL OF US IN THIS TIME.
LIKE MOST PEOPLE, GPI FACED HIS OWN SET OF MEANINGFUL CHALLENGES IN HIS LIFETIME FROM LOSING HIS TWO CREW MATES AT 20, TED WHITE AND JACK DELANEY IN WORLD WAR II WHEN THEIR PLANE WAS SHOT OUT OF THE SKY TO LOSING HIS VERY OWN BELOVED THREE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, ROBIN TO LEUKEMIA.
A FEW YEARS LATER, GAMP GPI NEVER GAVE IN TO THOSE TOUGH LOSSES.
MAN OF DEEP BUT SOMEWHAT QUIET FAITH.
HE YIELDED TO A HIGHER AUTHORITY IN ALL MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE, ESPECIALLY ON MATTERS HE COULD NOT EXPLAIN.
AND HE FELT A CALLING TO LIVE A LIFE OF PURPOSE BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED.
HE BELIEVED THAT EVERY DAY WE ARE GIVEN A FRESH START, A CHANCE FOR US TO CREATE, TO EXPERIENCE, TO BUILD UP AND TO LOVE.
HE BELIEVED THAT DESPITE THE SCARY HEADLINES THAT ENGULF US ON A DAILY BASIS, WHICH BY THE WAY, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GOTTEN WORSE SINCE HE'S, HE LEFT US.
THERE IS AN EARNEST COMPOUNDING GOODNESS THAT EXISTS IN THE VAST, VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT CALL THIS COUNTRY HOME.
AND SO ON HIS HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF THIS EXTRAORDINARILY GOOD MAN, LET'S ALL CELEBRATE HIS LIFE BY MEETING THIS NEW DAY WITH AN EMBRACE OF LOVE OF COUNTRY, LOVE OF OUR FELLOW COUNTRY MAN.
AND IN OUR OWN WAY, MAY WE FIND A PATH TO SHINE AS ONE OF THE THOUSAND POINTS OF LIGHT THAT HE RECOGNIZED MAKEUP THE VERY BEST OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY.
PIERCE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR HEART WITH US.
AND NOW YOU KNOW WHY THERE WAS NOT A DRY EYE IN THE HOUSE A FEW WEEKS AGO.
AS WE CONCLUDE OUR PROGRAM WITH A SONG BY THE TUTS MUSICAL THEATER ACADEMY ENSEMBLE, I INVITE YOU TO PLEASE JOIN US AT THE BUSH MONUMENT FOR BRIEF RECEPTION.
AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY.