Will George H.W. Bush be honoured with a state funeral? 41st President 'to lie in state in the US Capitol before being buried alongside his beloved wife Barbara in Texas'

  • Presidents and former presidents are all entitled to state funerals, under US law 
  • The 41st president of the US, Bush, 93, died just eight months after his wife, 92
  • Five surviving children will make announcement shortly over his funeral plans 
  • John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan had state funerals, Richard Nixon did not 

By ROD ARDEHALI FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

Following the death of George H.W. Bush, his five children are expected to announce shortly whether there will be a state funeral held - a privilege entitled to all presidents and former presidents.

The 41st president of the United States, Bush, 93, died just eight months after the loss of his wife Barbara, whom he had been married to for 73 years.

And while some former leaders including John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan have been honoured with state ceremonies in Washington in a process steeped in tradition, others families have eschewed the pomp and ceremony of the event.

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Following the death of George H.W. Bush, his five children will now decide whether to hold the state funeral entitled to all presidents and former presidents.Traditionally five days in length, presidential state funerals are meticulously choreographed and involve significant protocol

The 41st president of the United States, Bush, 93, died just eight months after the loss of his wife Barbara, whom he had been married to for 73 years (pictured together at a 2006 event)

The 41st president of the United States, Bush, 93, died just eight months after the loss of his wife Barbara, whom he had been married to for 73 years (pictured together at a 2006 event)

John F. Kennedy. 1952
Ronald Wilson Reagan, 40th President of the United States 1981-1989, with his Vice-President and successor George Herbert Bush

While some former leaders including John F. Kennedy (left) and Ronald Reagan (right, with George H.W. Bush)  were honoured with a state ceremony in Washington in a process steeped in tradition, others families have chosen to eschew the pomp and ceremony of the event

The church was packed with 1500 mourners. It was joked during the funeral that only two people could fill it - Jesus Christ and Barbara Bush 

While Bush's body will likely lie in state in the US capitol, he will be buried alongside his beloved wife, who died in April this year, aged 92 

Traditionally five days in length, presidential state funerals are meticulously choreographed and involve a large amount of protocol. 

Kennedy’s funeral in November 1963 was modelled after Abraham Lincoln’s, as requested by his wife Jacqueline Kennedy in her first public statement after her husband’s assassination. 

The rich tradition of US state funerals 

Traditionally five days long, the ceremony involves a funeral procession in in the state capitol, while a presidential proclamation will be issued allowing for the flag outside of the White House, and all other governmental buildings, to be flown at half-mast. 

On the day of interment for a president, a 21-gun salute traditionally is fired starting at noon at all military installations. 

State leaders from around the world are invited to the service and burial, while there is the option for a funeral procession down Pennsylvania Avenue. 

Eight presidents have opted for this including the four who were assassinated in office.  

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Richard Nixon's wishes were to hold a simple service at the Nixon Library in California, after which he was buried alongside his late wife Patricia. 

Coordination for the events is conducted by the army’s Military District of Washington and former presidents will have given some indication toward their preference while in office and following their administration.  

While Bush's body will likely lie in state in the US capitol, he will be buried alongside his beloved wife, who died in April this year, aged 92.

That will be at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Texas. Barbara's grave was opened to visitors three weeks after her burial, prompting visitors from all over the country to pay their final respects.

For nearly 80 years, the couple had been side-by-side, supporting one another through good times, and bad, facing spectacular triumphs and heartbreaking sadness together.

'Still in love with the man I married 72 years ago,' Barbara said of her incredible relationship with George \shortly before she passed away at their home in Houston on April 14.

 

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