At Ellington Field, artillery fired the salute in that band played a hail to the chief as a military honor guard brought the president s casket from the harvest to the plane. Of course that plane normally goes by air force one but the solemn flight has been dubbed special air mission 41. The late president s family is also on this flight including his son, the former president george w. Bush along with the former first lady laura bush. Here they are getting on that plane. Also on board, the former president s service dog, sully. You may have seen this photo of him lying down by the president s casket at the funeral home in houston. Of of course, bush senior was known for his colorful and iconic socks. The last pair he would wear would pay tribute to his lifetime of Service Starting as a navy aviator in world war ii. They are gray with Navy Fighter Jets flying in formation. This is just the beginning of a fourday tribute to president bush. His body will lie in state at the capital until wednesday, followed by a state funeral at the National Cathedral with President Trump, obama, clinton, carter, and bush the 43rd. After that, they will return for a service at his local church in houston before he was laid to rest at a family plot in his president ial library in College Station next to his late wife barbara and his daughter robin, who died when she was three years old. Ellison barber reporting, live from joint base andrews. We just saw a military honor guard walked by the area where we are standing. There are sailors here and we are told there are about 114 of them. A black hearse with the president ial seal arrived here just a few minutes ago, you can see that on the tarmac just behind me. The its escorted by three military march units. There are three initial stages when it comes to a state funeral. This is the start of stage two with nearly 4,000 civilian and military personnel from all branches of the armed forces are part of a task force overseeing all of this. And, the commander in chief is deciding to follow some traditions. They are deciding to leave some things out. And, his motorcade passed through the place he called home for so many years. The Historical Association says that by planning her own funeral, the president was able to encourage personal touches that could elucidate their character and legacy on a national stage. Thats the president s final combination with the nation that they served. Ellison, thanks. President bush is Public Service him all over the world. And, that the president ial remain for the flight to washington. This joint reserve base is home to the aerotech Texas National guard. And the casket was carried out this morning by current and former members and, then the group. Thats a 36mile journey to Ellington Field where hundreds of more friends gathered. And as the 77th army band from fort sill alabama played hail to the chief and cannons fired 21 rounds, a joint military honor guard handled that movement of the president s casket to air force one for a special air 41. We heard from the president s son, neil, yesterday, who said that family was excited to fly aboard air force one to washington. Of course there were plenty of sadness amongst all those children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. They consider the next few days a chance to celebrate the life of what they call an amazing man. The president s casket is returning to houston on wednesday, right . After that funeral at the National Cathedral in washington, his cap casket be thrown back here and take into his familys church where he will lie in repose. Then there will be another funeral on thursday for his family and for texas friends. And that is on the grounds of the president ial library there. That will happen on thursday morning and thursday afternoon. Rick leventhal, live with us. Lets turn to Patrick Ocarroll now, he worked with the secret service for 26 years. During that time he protected not one but four president s including president bush, the 41st. Good afternoon and welcome. Good afternoon and thanks for this opportunity. Your time began with mr. Bush as Vice President , and its our understanding that in the very early days you got a good sense of who he was. The Vice President is usually several agents with him, and, we really got to know bush and his family. So that then Vice President , president bush the 41st. And they are fortunate to be the driver that drove Vice President bush and mrs. Bush. And when we allow them to step out of the car for viewing the public. So anyway the agent turned back to the Vice President and said, we will be opening up the roof. And at that point Vice President bush turned to mrs. Bush and said, hey baby, i told you i would take you places. The door opened up and they stepped out to the crowd and it has stayed with me all these years. Shepard i do have to interrupt for just a moment as Mitch Mcconnell is now speaking on the former and late president on the senate floor. Bush stayed the course. It concluded list of core principles, and heres what he said. Tell the truth. Be strong, do your best, and try hard. Forgive and stay the course. Year after year. Post after post. And he helped his country do the same. The fog of war and persian gulf on the International Order needed defending. Americas commander in chief lead just as steadily as he had in that smoking cockpit almost 50 years earlier. And in between the pacific and the presidency, he steered us straight through countless challenges. The congressman, invested to the cia director and Vice President. Serve and capably in just one or two of these posts and that would ensure any americans placed in history. But bush served in all of them. And always with excellence. On the homefront, president bush was a warrior for hope, optimism, and opportunity. As president , you pave the way for education reform and signed legislation to give disabled americans a better shot. Overseas, he was a talented diplomat, and powerful champion of our interests. It was on his watch that the cold war finally ended. The free people of europe threw off the shackles of communism. But president bush knew that america not kick up our heels and enjoy a holiday from histor history. We fought and won the gulf war and order to make something perfectly clear to allies and enemies alike. It had to be right and not mite that filled the void. He set a rule where the role of loss supplies the rule of the jungle and his leadership moved us toward such a world. Through global change, domestic turmoil and economic transformation, whether in jobs that he had passionately sought out or in other assignments he dutifully accepted. George bush kept us on course. He wasnt a dramatic or revolutionary leader and he didnt advertise radical change. He never quite seem to home in the spotlight. Instead, he offered humility and a servants heart. He and stomach aspire to govern this country well, preserve what was good and improve things that were possible. He wanted to keep us flying high and challenge us to have fly a little higher. And he led us as he seemingly did in his life with grace and kindness that seemed almost unbelievable, given all that he has accomplished. A daring aviator, chief spy, wartime president. Youd think this would be a tough and grumpy guy. But it is this means good cheer and spirit that stand out most of all in our national memory. He was a prolific and writer of notes and letters. He freely changed his own plans to make life easier for his staff, or for the secret service detail. I saw recently that some years after his presidency he couldnt even bring himself to simply turn down a report or request for an interview without crafting a warm apologetic full page letter explaining his rationale. His decency and attentiveness to others was a credit to his upbringing. But it wasnt only have it, it was principal. This is a man who said this in his inaugural address. In our hearts, we know what matters. We cannot hope to leave our children not only 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, neighborhood and town better than when he found it. Looking beyond todays drama, issuing a deep moral challenge, george bush sent set the bar hd his country listen to. Because we saw him meet those standards himself. George bushs gifts were many. But some gifts were greater than others. George bush and barbara pierce met at a Christmas Party in 1941. He described to her to his mother as the nifty guest girl at the dance. Weeks after he returned from the war, they were married. Ive climbed to perhaps the highest mountain in the world, he would write much leader, but even that cannot hold a candle to being barbaras husband. Their love story would grow to include six children and to span great joys and tragic loss. It whether the challenges of the spotlight. In every chapter, george bush served as comforter and counselor. He cared for loved ones with the dedication that never ceased to amaze them. So much for the myth of the starched, episcopalian new new englander. George bush was no stoic. In fact he developed his own tearyeyed foundation as what the Family Member of the Bush Foundation calls, the b letter a letter wl brigade. His contributions have enriched this country even more. Few men so powerful would have even thought to call for a kinder, gentler nation. Even fewer could have lived it themselves. His words literally lifted our experience and his example inspired us. A quarter century after george bush left the oval office, his legacy continues to directly inspire not just a thousand points of life, but millions of volunteers who serve others. So, madam president , in war and peace, in public and in private, in high office and in family moments, reggie bush stay the course. The greatest generation indeed. The grand heroism that saved our nation. The quiet diligence that built it up. And, the basic goodness that sustains it. Thats all in one. Today, the United States senate joins the nation and the bush family in mourning, and in prayer. We are also joined in gratitude. We are thankful that god gave this country george bush and barbara. Thankful that they built such a loving family and thankful that they may now be reunited, their great love story perfected in the light of his grace. Shepard Mitch Mcconnell on the senate floor on the life of president george h. W. Bush. Lets return to Patrick Ocarroll now, he worked with secret service for 26 years and during that time protected for president s including the 41st president. Sir, hearing Mitch Mcconnell and the remainder of, stay the course, it was a reminder of how he lived every day. He was a model for all of us. No matter who you were, he was friendly to you and engaging and he went out of his way to talk to any of the Police Officers that assisted the agents with him. It was usually enjoyable just to be around them. One president reagan was sho shot, there became an immediate need to get the Vice President to the white house. But, he had his own thoughts about how that ought to happen. Would you mind recalling that story for us . Absolutely. What happened is, he was flying back from texas and he called in and said that they would be landing at Andrews Air Force base. Normally, a marine to would pick him up and fly him to the Vice President s residence. In this case they offered to take him to the white house. Then they made arrangements to drop him on the national mall, where we had a motorcade ready of metropolitan police and park police, and secret service. Then we took him to the white house. That must have been a very heady day. It was extremely. All day long we were calling in the reports from the hospital with president reagan, and to air force too, as he was coming back. Everyone was nervous and upset by the day, and he was extremely happy when he finally got back to washington and arrived at the white house. This is a president who has known stress like most never will, and that will be another in a long line of stressful days where members of the secret service were able to observe him and learn from him on those days. What was he like on the most stressful of occasions . Like that one, for instance. As i was saying, he never showed any of the stress that was going on. He always had a calm atmosphere about him and often times, what was kind of interesting was, again with the Vice President , it was informal so he would be able to cut out of the white house and oftentimes, go for a run. During very stressful times he would bring a couple of agents with him and run the tow paths in washingtons. Washington. He ran so often and without much advance notice that it was my understanding that a couple of agents every shift, every day, would be bring Running Shoes just in case. The two designated runners would climb into the car and off we would go. Come shepard did you ever run with him . We ran with him on several occasions. He engaged us by first name and we talked along the way. I remember reading back on his life that there was a particular day when the secret service was planning a 10k and he wanted to get in on it . Absolutely. As we were running, or some of our agents were running with him, they told him that they were getting ready for a 10k that was being sponsored by beltsville in our training facility. And at the time president bush said it, id love to go but i guess we better trained for it. After that every day everybody would bring in their clothes and i was fortunate to go with him. And at that time he set a personal record. He wasnt going to be left behind, thats for certain. Thank you so much, sir, its an honor to speak with you. Im honored to be able to talk about such a patriot and a hero. Mike emanuel, our chief Congressional Correspondent is with us as we watch the president s plane returned to washington. We were at a christmas gettogether last night, mike, and some friends were saying, how do they transport the casket . Will they make room for him inside the plane or, how does that work . And though i didnt know the specifics at that moment, i was confident he would be inside that plane. And, you will see a lot of special arrangements there on the tarmac, at Andrews Joint air force base just outside of washington, d. C. , before his body isnt motorcade they are to the United States capitol for for a very official welcoming ceremony. Then the public will get a chance to pay his respects to the 41st president of the United States later this evening and that will continue all day tomorrow, into wednesday morning. Then wednesday morning of course we will head for the National Cathedral across the town for a very special General Service they are at the National Cathedral where son, George George w. Bush will headline the people who deliver eulogies at this funeral. 45 people throughout our american people, so when a president passes on its an extra ordinary moment in this country and you will see all of that they are on the tarmac at andrews, here at the capitol, and at the National Cathedral in the coming days. Mike emanuel, thank you. John roberts is reporting from the white house this afternoon. John, days of remembrances. The bush family has been very specific to remind us that this is to be a celebration of george buschs life. I think thats really the way the bush family wants it as well and thats why you saw president george w. Bush in an interview with 60 minutes last night praising his father. He was asked norah odonnell, if you look back over time, the legacy of the president gets better and president bush 43 said, we all do. We all look better, thats the way time works. But he also said that he thought his father would go down as the greatest one term president ever, because of his Foreign Policy experience in the way he conducted Foreign Policy, deftly handling the end of the cold war. He said for example, reunification with germany. During their bilateral meeting at the g20 in buenos aires on saturday, the german chancellor Angela Merkel completely agreed with that, saying that bush 41 is seen as and, and his body will lie in state, and im sure he had gone down as one of the greatest twoterm president s ever. Working with Mikhail Gorbachev on that, and the way that he allowed his commanders, including colin powell and general schwarzkopf to conduct the gulf war one in such a way that it was one very swiftly, very decisively, and one back the oilfields of kuwait, his Approval Rating by the way. After that conflict, was 89 . Its interesting to note that the only other president thats had a higher Approval Rating in modern times than that was his son. Right after 9 11, george w. Bushs Approval Rating was up 92 . So what happens here in the next few days . He will lie in state in the rotunda of the Capitol