Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Statement on the Passing of the 41st President of the United States George H.W. Bush

Statement

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, of the 18th Congressional District of Texas, issued this statement on the death of George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States:

"His was a life of love: for God, for Country, and for family. George H.W. Bush, whom we lost yesterday at the age of 94, was a giant among men. He served our nation for most of the last seven decades, in so many of the institutions and sectors that make our country great.

"We were all very lucky to have him as long as we did. As the second youngest naval aviator, he was shot down during one of countless flights in the Pacific theater of World War II, leaving him stranded in the ocean for many hours--his life in danger and with rescue uncertain. Fortunately for him and the hundreds of millions of people across the globe who were touched by his leadership and mourn him today, he would be found alive and brought home. That night in September 1944 would prove fateful to this man, and the country he would serve and that we all love. When he returned home, he married the woman who would be by his side for 73 years and serve as our nation's First Lady, Barbara Pierce Bush. Theirs was a bond so strong that it is perhaps no coincidence that they left us within mere months of one another. Together, they created a prolific and legendary American political dynasty dedicated to public service, including: a son who would serve as governor of Texas and later become the 43rd President, George W. Bush; and Jeb Bush, who would serve two terms as governor of Florida.

"President George H.W. Bush's life was one marked by service to country: in the military, as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas, as part of our nation's diplomatic corps, as director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and as Vice President of the United States, before he would be elected the 41st President of the United States. His tenure as our nation's Chief Executive is one for which we should all be grateful, as he presided over a remarkable period of geopolitical transition and progress, including the end of the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the successful administration of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and a commitment to denuclearization as a means to achieve diplomatic ends.

"And, he did not let electoral defeat diminish him or his commitment to public service. When they were both former presidents, George H.W. Bush and his successor --the man who would deny him reelection--Bill Clinton, joined together to help victims following the devastating tsunami in Indonesia in 2004, and to help hurricane victims in New Orleans following Katrina. Throughout his long time in public life, he demonstrated unwavering fidelity to country, and it manifested itself in several ways, but is best articulated by President Bush himself, during his 1989 inaugural address: "I've spoken of a thousand points of light, of all the community organizations, that are spread like stars throughout the nation doing good. I will go to the people and the programs that are the brighter points of light and I will ask every member of my government to become involved. The old ideas are new again because they are not old, they are timeless: duty, sacrifice, commitment, and a patriotism that finds its expression in taking part and pitching in.'

"I know that today, people across the land and indeed the world are remembering this giant of American life. Of course, those of us in Houston also mourn and celebrate a neighbor, whom we loved, whose life we remember, and whose presence in our community is something we will forever cherish. Though he has departed, we are grateful for the time we shared with him and for his service to our nation. I mourn the passing of this statesman, but also celebrate his life. In this time, I extend my deepest sympathies to the entire Bush Family and hold them close in my heart. May God bless President George H.W. Bush, the entire Bush Family, and may he rest in peace."

Source