COLORADO SPRINGS – As a nation pauses for the final time, and the 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush is laid to rest in his adopted home of Texas, the U.S. military paid tribute in it’s own unique way on Thursday to honor the war hero, veteran and life long public servant.
On Fort Carson Thursday, the sounds of cannon fire rang out as a tribute to the late President. An artillery unit carried out a 21 cannon salute, honoring President Bush. The tribute, which was repeated at U.S. military installations around the country comes from an executive order from President Trump, issued on December first, and in accordance with Army Regulation 600-25, related to honoring public servants in a unique military way.
News 5 spoke with Lieutenant Colonel Donald Cherry, Junior on Thursday morning, the artillery battalion commander who told us the gesture shows respect for the man, his family and the office of the Presidency. He called it a “neat” way to see how, we, as a nation, honor and remember our leaders.
It was just the latest event, in a week long remembrance for the late President, as his flag draped coffin was transported from Washington, D.C. to a private funeral in Houston, Texas on Thursday morning, then carried by train, accompanied by a military honor guard, to his final resting place at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library grounds in College Station, Texas. Buried next to his beloved wife of 73 years, Barbara, who passed away in April of this year.
