everything is perfect. barbara and i could not have asked for better lives. we are truly happy and truly at peace. as i looked over the waters of walkers point on that cold september afternoon in maine, i was reminded of the lines simple and true that speak to the real nature of george bush and his love of his wonderful family and precious surroundings. there are wooden ships, there are sailing ships, there are ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships and may they always be.

>> relax, george told me i only had ten minutes. he was very direct about it, it wasn't even funny. now, i first met my friend, my dear friend, george bush, in 1962 when my father was a member of the united states senate, just elected, and i came back to washington with dad to settle on his new office being vacated by one senator prescott bush,

george's father. then we met again when my parents left washington and sold their home to a brand spanking new congressman from texas named george herbert walker bush. so george and barbara, mom and pop, did that sale on a handshake. sound familiar? then i came to the senate in 1978 and soon after that ronald reagan cornered me and asked me to support him for president. i said i would, not knowing that my friend, george, would enter the fray. hearing that, i called and i said, george, i want to tell you i'd love to help, but i already committed to ronald reagan. george's response, well, al, i'm sorry about that. i probably should have let you know sooner. and actually a guy doesn't get very many calls from a friend

who says they can't support him. sound familiar? of course it does. because in george bush's theme of life during all the highs and lows, there was a simple credo. what would we do without family and friends? and when he became vice president, our friendship, our enjoyable friendship was refreshed and the four of us had many, many pleasant times together. my life in washington was rather tumultuous. i went from the a social list to the z and never came back to the "a." in one dark period i was feeling awful low, and all my wounds were self-inflicted, all of them. and george called me early one morning, always early in the

morning. country music playing in the background. and he said, i see the media is shooting you pretty full of holes. actually he said it a bit more pungently than that. and he said why don't we go up to camp david. you and ann come over and we'll have a weekend together. at that time his popularity rating was 93%. mine was 0.93%. and so off we went, the media of course all gathered as we headed to marine one. and george said, now wave to your pals over there in the media, al. and they didn't wave back. so the next morning he's going through all the papers in the u.s. and he looks up and he says, aha, here's the one i've

been looking for. a picture of barbara and ann and george with his arm and hand on my back. later we're having a sauna, and i said, george, i am not unmindful as to what you are doing. you are propping up your old wounded duck pal. while you're at the top of your game, you reach out to me while i'm tangled in rich controversy and taking my lumps. and he said, yep. there were staff members, al, who told me not to do this, but, al, this is about friendship and loyalty. sound familiar? we had an awful lot of fun too. always a delight to be in the president's box at the kennedy center, off to a play at the national theater with the bushes. and outside of the president's

box one evening there was a massive six-foot vase with an extraordinary glaze. i hope you know the difference between a vase and a vase. 35 bucks. george walked up to it and he said, al, wait, i think that's a truscom. i notice this blue-grayish glaze from that period, a clay that could only be found during that era. and i said, no, no, george, the patina there gives me the perception it was possibly older, perhaps of greek origin with that particular herbal paste before firing. people gathered around mumbling about these expert observers. barbara and ann finally came by and said, get out of here, both

of you. get back in that box. well, we did. well, it was impressive for a while and then, of course, one night the four of us went to see michael crawford. singing the songs of andrew lloyd webber. all four of us were singing as we went back to the white house. ♪ don't cry for me argentina and tidbits from "phantom of the opera" and other magic of weber. a few days later he's getting hammered by the press for some extraordinarily petty bit of trivia. suddenly he sings out -- ♪ don't cry for me argentina the press wrote that he was finally losing his marbles. now, these honored guests right here before us who have held this noble post know all of the

slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. he was a class act from birth to death. he housed the strong sinews in mind and body gained from that extraordinary mother. we compared our mothers as velvet hammers, of course, and certainly most awesome fathers. the history books will and are treating him most fairly, while uncovering some other powerful traits, his great competitiveness, his raw courage and his self discipline. recall the andrews air base conclave where congressional participants drafted a remarkable bill that dealt with two-year budgeting, entitlement reform, comprehensive and catastrophic health care, social security solvency and much more,

but it required a critical ingredient called revenue. translated into the word "taxes." translated into the words "read my lips." and the group went to george and said, look, we can get this package done, but we must have some revenue. and he said, i'll never forget, he said, what i have said on that subject sure puts a hell of a lot of heat on me. and then they all said, yes, but we can get it done and it will be bipartisan. and george said, okay, go for it, but it will be a real punch in the gut. bob dole then, a loyal warrior for george, took it back to the senate and we won a very strong bipartisan vote. it went over to the house where his own party turned on him.

surely one of the main factors assuring his return to private life. but he often said when the really tough choices come, it's the country, not me. it's not about democrats or republicans, it's for our country that i have fought for. and he was a man of such great humility, those who travel the high road of humility in washington, d.c., are not bothered by heavy traffic. and he had a very serious flaw known by all close to him. he loved a good joke, the richer the better, and he'd throw his head back and give that great laugh, but he never, ever could remember a punch line. and i mean never. so the punch line for george

herbert walker bush is this. you would have wanted him on your side. he never lost his sense of humor. humor is the universal solvent against the abrasive elements of life. that's what humor is. he never hated anyone. he knew what his mother and my mother always knew, hatred corrodes the container it's carried in. the most honest and decent person i ever met was my friend, george bush. his epitaph, perhaps a single letter, the letter "l" for loyalty. it coursed through his blood. loyalty to his country, loyalty to his family, loyalty to his friends, loyalty to the institutions of government and always, always, always a friend

to his friends. none of us were ready for this day. we mourn his loss from our own lives and what he was to each of us. that is so personal, so intimate, so down inside. it would have been so much easier to celebrate his life with him here, but he is gone, irrevocably gone. now we have loosed our grip upon him, but we shall always retain his memory in our hearts. god has come now to take him back. we all knew on one unknown day, he would return to his god. now we give him up. we commend him to your loving hands. thank you for him, god rest his soul.

♪ in the long and honored history of america ♪ ♪ there are names that shine like beacons in the night ♪ ♪ the patriots whose vision gave us meaning ♪ ♪ who kept the lamp of freedom burning bright ♪ ♪ in the long and honored

history of america ♪ ♪ there are those who pay the last and final price ♪ ♪ all upon by chance in desperate circumstance ♪ ♪ make the ultimate sacrifice ♪ a grateful nation bows its head in sorrow ♪ ♪ and in thanks for guaranteeing a tomorrow ♪ ♪

♪ the last full measure of devotion ♪ ♪ that's what they gave to the cause ♪ ♪ the last full measure of devotion ♪ ♪ and keep alive the story ♪ the tribute to the lives ♪ and give full of deplory ♪ the last full measure of devotion ♪ ♪ beyond the call of duty ♪ the last full measure of devotion ♪ ♪ and they gave their lives to serve the greater need ♪

♪ we join in praise ♪ they join in praise of comrades who were slain ♪ ♪ and highly resolved ♪ most highly resolved ♪ that these dead shall not have died in vain ♪ ♪ the last full measure of devotion ♪ ♪ beyond the call of duty were their deeds ♪ ♪ the last full measure of devotion ♪ ♪ he gave himself to serve the greater need ♪ ♪ and for those who did survive ♪ ♪ and came back home alive

♪ they join in praise of comrades who were slain ♪ ♪ and highly resolved ♪ most highly resolved ♪ that these dead shall not have died in vain ♪

distinguished guests, including our presidents and first ladies, government officials, foreign dignitaries, and friends, jeb, neil, marvin, doro and i and our families thank you all for being here. i once heard it said of man that the idea is to die young as late as possible. at age 85, a favorite pastime of george h.w. bush was firing up his boat, the fidelity, and opening up the three 300

horsepower engines to fly, joy fully fly across the atlantic with the secret service boats straining to keep up. at age 90, george h.w. bush parachuted out of an aircraft and landed on the grounds of st. anne's by the sea in kennebunkport, maine. the church where his mom was married and where he worshipped often. mother liked to say he chose the location just in case the chute didn't open. in his 90s, he took great delight when his closest pal, james a. baker, smuggled a bottle of grey goose vodka into his hospital room. apparently it paired well with the steak baker had delivered from morton's. to his very last days, dad's life was instructive.

as he aimiged he taught us how grow with dignity, humor and kindness. when the good lord finally called, how to meet him with courage and with the joy of the promise of what lies ahead. one reason dad knew how to die young is that he almost did it, twice. when he was a teenager, a staph infection nearly took his life. a few years later he was alone in the pacific on a life raft, praying that his rescuers would find him before the enemy did. god answered those prayers. it turned out he had other plans for george h.w. bush. for dad's part, i think those brushes with death made him cherish the gift of life, and he vowed to live every day to the fullest. dad was always busy, a man in constant motion, but never too busy to share his love of life

with those around him. he taught us to love the outdoors. he loved watching dogs flush a covey. he loved landing the illusive striper. and once confined to a wheelchair, he seemed happiest sitting in his favorite perch on the back porch at walkers point contemplating the majesty of the atlantic. the horizons he saw were bright and hopeful. he was a genuinely optimistic man, and that optimism guided his children and made each of us believe that anything was possible. he continually broadened his horizons with daring decisions. he was a patriot. after high school he put college on hold and became a navy fighter pilot as world war ii broke out. like many of his generation, he never talked about his service.

until his time as a public figure forced his hand. we learned of the attack, the mission completed, the shootdown. we learned of the death of his crewmates whom he thought about throughout his entire life. and we learned of the rescue. and then another audacious decision, he moved his young family from the comforts of the east coast to odessa, texas. he and mom adjusted to their arid surroundings quickly. he was a tolerant man. after all, he was kind and neighborly to the women with whom he, mom and i shared a bathroom in our small duplex. even after he learned their profession, ladies of the night. dad could relate to people from all walks of life. he was an empathetic man. he valued character over

pedigree, and he was no cynic. he looked for the good in each person and he usually found it. dad taught us that public service is noble and necessary, that one can serve with integrity and hold true to the important values like faith and family. he strongly believed that it was important to give back to the community and country in which one lived. he recognized that serving others enriched the giver's soul. to us, his was the brightest of a thousand points of light. in victory he shared credit. when he lost, he shouldered the blame. he accepted that failure is a part of living a full life. but taught us never to be defined by failure. he showed us how setbacks can strengthen. none of his disappointments could compare with one of life's

greatest tragedies, the loss of a young child. jeb and i were too young to remember the pain and agony he and mom felt when our 3-year-old sister died. we only learned later that dad, a man of quiet faith, prayed for her daily. he was sustained by the love of the almighty and the real and enduring love of her mom. dad always believed that one day he would hug his precious robin again. he loved to laugh. especially at himself. he could tease and needle but never out of malice. he placed great value on a good joke. that's why he chose simpson to speak. on e-mail he had a circle of

friends with whom he shared or received the latest jokes. his grading system for the quality of the joke was classic george bush. the rare 7s and 8s were considered huge winners. most of them off color. george bush knew how to be a true and loyal friend. he nurtured and honored his many friendships with a generous and giving soul. there exists thousands of handwritten notes encouraging or sympathizing or thanking his friends and aquaintances. he had an enormous capacity to give of himself. many a person would tell you that dad became a mentor and a father figure in their life. he listened and he consoled. he was their friend. i think of don rhodes, taylor blanton, jim nantz, arnold schwarzenegger, and perhaps the unlikeliest of all, the man who defeated him, bill clinton.

my siblings and i refer to the guys in this group as brothers from other mothers. he taught us that a day was not meant to be wasted. he played golf at a legendary pace. i always wonder why he insisted on speed golf. he's a good golfer. here's my conclusion. he played fast so he could move on to the next event, to enjoy the rest of the day, to expend his enormous energy, to live it all. he was born with just two settings, full throttle, then sleep. he taught us what it means to be a wonderful father, grandfather and great grandfather. he was firm in his principles and supportive as we began to seek our own ways. he encouraged and comforted but never steered.

we tested his patience. i know i did. but he always responded with the great gift of unconditional love. last friday when i was told he had minutes to live, i called him. the guy answered the phone, said i think he can hear you but he hasn't said anything for most of the day. i said, dad, i love you and you've been a wonderful father. and the last words he would ever say on earth were, "i love you too." to us he was close to perfect. but not totally perfect. his short game was lousy. he wasn't exactly fred astaire on the dance floor. the man couldn't stomach vegetables. especially broccoli. and by the way, he passed these

genetic defects along to us. finally, every day of his 73 years of marriage, dad taught us all what it means to be a great husband. he married his sweetheart. he adored her. he laughed and cried with her. he was dedicated to her totally. in his old age dad enjoyed watching police show reruns. the volume on high. all the while holding mom's hand. after mom died, dad was strong, but all he really wanted to do was hold mom's hand again. of course dad taught me another special lesson. he showed me what it means to be a president who serves with integrity, leads with courage and acts with love in his heart for the citizens of our country. when the history books are written, they will say that george h.w. bush was a great

president of the united states. a diplomat of unmatched skill. a commander in chief of formidable accomplishment, and a gentleman who executed the duties of his office with dignity and honor. in his inaugural address the 41st president of the united states said this. we cannot hope only to leave our children a bigger car, a bigger bank account, we must hope to give them a sense of what it means to be a loyal friend, a loving parent, a citizen who leaves his home, his neighborhood and town better than he found it. what do we want the men and women who work with us to say when we were no longer there. that we were more driven to succeed than anyone around us or that we stopped to ask if a sick child had gotten better and stayed a moment there to trade a word of friendship. well, dad, we're going to remember you for exactly that and much more, and we're going

to miss you. your decency, sincerity and kind soul will stay with us forever. so through our tears, let us know the blessings of knowing and loving you, a great and noble man. the best father a son or daughter could have. and in our grief, let us smile knowing that dad is hugging robin and holding mom's hand again.

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♪ >> please stand. the holy gospel of our lord, jesus christ, according to matthew. >> glory be to you, o lord. >> jesus said, you are the light of the world. a city on a hill cannot be hidden. neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. instead, they put it on its

stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. in the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven. the gospel of the lord. >> bow your heads in prayer, please. almighty god, of all comfort, console us, of all light, strengthen us, of all love, inspire us to love you and to love those you send our way. amen. please be seated. it is a tremendous honor to follow the speakers and especially someone whom i admire so much, our 43rd president. sir, your father always welcomed

by visits and never made me feel rushed and always said thank you for coming. never made me feel like i was going on too long. your mother -- usually said good sermon, too long. i got your e-mail. you're a lot like your mother. ladies and gentlemen, children of god, when death comes, as it does to us all, life is changed, not ended. and the way we live our lives, the decisions we make, the service we render, matter. they matter to our fellow human beings, to this world that god has given to us, and they matter

to god. few people have understood this as well or lived their lives as accordingly as president george herbert walker bush. hear what i said lived it. not earned it or strived to achieve it. it was as natural to him as breathing is to each of us. president bush was a good man, a decent man, a godly man, full of grace and love and a quality of absolute necessity to enter the kingdom of god, humility. grounded in a desire to serve his god and all god sent his way. how do i know this? because for nearly a dozen years, my wife, laura, and our children and i, we have laughed with him, we have fished with him. president bush brought up riding

and fidelity. the secret service was behind us, he was at full throttle. i saw many of them reaching for what i thought were protective armor, but then i realized as they followed the president, they were actually crossing themselves. we've been blessed to share meals and tears and moments of silence and prayers in times of great strength and times of great weakness. never, not once, did i witness anything but care and concern for those around him. the job of a pastor or priest, iman, a rabbi, when dealing with someone he or she is called to serve, is to call on them, to look to god, to do the right thing, to serve others, and to love. and president bush made my job

so easy. the hebrew scriptures remind us that god is light, and the president reflected that light his whole life through. he once said i'm a man who sees life in terms of missions defined and missions completed. we were called with delight when he reminded america and his citizens of his mission and ours to be points of light with but one aim, to leave our world better than we found it. i have a political cartoon of the 41st president. i keep it in my desk with caricatured big ears. he's sitting at his desk, looking at his watch and saying to himself, communism is dead, the wall is down, apartheid is falling, mandela is free, germany is reuniting, the cold war is over, i've returned my calls, and heck, it's not even lunchtime.

we sometimes forget all that president bush did for us, in large part because he referred to shine not upon himself but to shine to others. several years ago president bush gave me this plaque. on the back is a note. russ, a good friend gave this to me some years ago. it may be of help to you in some way. it reads simply, preach christ at all times. if necessary, use words. it remains on my desk as a reminder that faith means more than words. jesus christ for george bush was at the heart of his faith. but his was a deep faith, a generous faith, a simple faith in the best sense of the world. he knew and lived jesus' two

greatest commandcommandments, t fwaud -- god and love your neighbor. he lived his own adage that tolerance is a virtue, not a vice. he respected and befriended christians of every denomination as well as jews and muslims and buddhists and sikhs. his comrades were from every nation and race. yes, he was a republican, but for him, political parties were but a line in the sand to brush away in times of the greater good of working toward his goal for all of us, to be that kinder and gentler nation. the gospel that was just read for us a moment ago reminds us that jesus told his followers to be the light of the world so that the world could turn their hearts toward god and toward others. let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father in heaven. and so was president bush.

his life was defined by his faith and his service, that worthy of all those made in god's image. in september of 1990, president bush spoke to those gathered outside those doors for the dedication of this great cathedral. he pointed inside to that magnificent rose window right there from the outside, and he spoke these words, from where we now stand, the rose window high above seems black and formless to some, perhaps, but when we enter, we see it back lit by the sun. it dazzles in astonishing splendor and reminds us that without faith we too are but stained glass windows in the dark. the president understood that even in the darkest of nights, things can be transformed, if handed over to the redemptive power of the almighty. no one on that first good friday

expected easter sunday, but it came. it came because the light that brought creation into being also brought life from the grave. we call that resurrection. only days ago, i was humbled along with members of the president's staff. his outstanding and loyal medical team, so many friends, sully, who i believe has gotten more press than the president in the last few days. loving members of his family, who called in, who spoke with him throughout the day. and as our 43rd president just said, inspired his last words, words of love. sitting with us was someone the president liked to call his little brother, james baker, and his wife, susan.

as i said, there had been wonderful hugs and kind words throughout the day, kisses throughout the day. toward the end, secretary baker and i were sitting on the sofa next to one another a few steps away and he whispered to me, you know, that man changed my life. a bit later secretary baker was at the foot of the president's bed. toward the end jim baker rubbed and stroked the president's feet for perhaps half an hour. the president smiled at the comfort of his dear friend. here i witnessed a world leader who was serving a servant who had been our world's leader. and what came to mind was jesus. on that last night before his own crucifixion, having said everything that was to say, he wrapped a towel around his waist and without words, he washed his

disciples feet. as jesus finished, he said, i've set an example for you. do as i have done, serve one another. by this the world will know you're my disciples, if you serve and if you love one another. at the end, we all knelt. we all placed our hands on the president. we said our prayers together. and then we were silent. for a full long measure, as this man, who changed all of our lives, who changed our nation, who changed our world, left this life for the next. it was a beautiful end. it was a beautiful beginning. for a moment, but a moment only,

that dear point of light we know as george herbert walker bush dimmed. but it now shines brighter than it ever before has. and now this godly man, this servant, this child of god, is in the loving arms of barbara and robin and the welcoming arms of our lord, who embraced him with his divine love. some have said in the last few days this is an end of an era. but it does not have to be. perhaps it's an invitation to fill the hole that has been left behind. the president so loved his church, he loved the episcopal church. he so loved our great nation. he so loved you, his friends. he so loved every member of his family.

but he was so ready to go to heaven. and heaven was so ready to receive him, because he lived those two great commandments. if you want to honor him and if you call yourself a daughter or a son of god, then love god, love your neighbor. there's no greater mission on planet earth. my hunch is heaven, as perfect as it must be, just got a bit kinder and gentler, leaving behind that hole for you and me to fill. how? preach christ at all times. if necessary, use words. so, mr. president, mission complete.

well done, good and faithful servant. welcome to your eternal home, where ceiling and visibility are unlimited and life goes on forever. amen. ♪

♪ packing up the dreams god planned ♪ ♪ we'll keep you close ♪ as always ♪ it wasn't even see you go ♪ because our hearts ♪ will keep the love that keeps

us strong ♪ ♪ a friend will not say never ♪ because the welcome will not end ♪ ♪ though it's hard to let you go ♪ ♪ in the father's hands we know ♪ ♪ that a lifetime is not too long ♪ ♪ to live as friends ♪ with the faith and love god's given me ♪ ♪ springing from the hope we know ♪ ♪ and we will pray the joy you're living ♪ ♪ is the strength you now show

♪ we'll keep you close ♪ as always ♪ it won't even seem you've gone ♪ ♪ because our thoughts in big and small ways ♪ ♪ will keep the love that keeps us strong ♪ ♪ a friend will not say never ♪ because the welcome will not end ♪ ♪ though it's hard to let you go ♪ ♪ in the father's hands we know ♪ ♪ that a lifetime's not too long ♪ ♪ to live as friends

♪ a friend will not say never ♪ because the welcome will not end ♪ ♪ though it's hard to let you go ♪ ♪ in the father's hands we know ♪ ♪ that a lifetime's not too long ♪ ♪ to live as friends ♪ no, a lifetime's not too long ♪ ♪ to live as friends

in the assurance of eternal life given at baptism, let us proclaim our faith and say, i believe in god, the father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. i believe in jesus christ his only son, our lord. he was conceived by the power of the holy spirit and born of the virgin mary. he suffered under pontiu pontius pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. he descended to the dead. on the third day he rose again. he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the father. he will come again to judge the living and the dead. i believe the holy spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the

resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. amen. ♪ our father ♪ which art in heaven ♪ hallow ed be 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

>> for our brother, george, let us pray to our lord, jesus christ, who said i am resurrection and i am life. lord, you consoled martha and mary in their distress. draw near to us who mourn for george and dry the tears of those who weep. >> hear us, o lord.

>> you went at the grave of lazarus, your friend. comfort us in our sorrow. >> hear us, o lord. >> you raised the dead to life. give to our brother your eternal life. >> hear us, o lord. >> you promised paradise to the thief who repented. bring our brother to the joys of heaven. >> hear us, o lord. >> our brother was washed in baptism and anointed with the holy spirit. give him fellowship with all your saints. >> hear us, o lord. >> comfort us in our sorrows at the death of our brother. let our faith be our consolation and eternal life our hope. >> hear us, o lord. >> father of all, we pray to you for george and for all those

whom we love but see no longer. grant to them eternal rest. let light perpetual shine for him. let his soul and the souls of all the departed through the mercy of god, rest in peace. >> amen. ♪ ♪

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