Sunday, April 22, 2018 – Saying Good Bye with Pearls and Grace

Sunday, April 22, 2018 – Saying Good Bye with Pearls and Grace

Yesterday, April 21, Aggie Muster became an even more special and solemn occasion. Hundreds of us lined Texas Avenue and George Bush Drive in College Station to watch the motorcade go to the Bush Library and to say our final goodbye to former First Lady, Barbara Bush.

On Thursday, I took this photo of the George Bush Library with the flags at half-staff.

Local media informed those who wanted to watch the motorcade to be parked and in place by 2:00 pm. Since we always want to be on the front row of history, Ms. Navasota and I arrived at 12:30. But we met the coolest ladies and had the greatest conversations. Note the following photograph:

Two minutes later an AP photographer took their photo and it has gone international. So, HWIT, if that photographer wins a Pulitzer for that photograph, J and I will say “we took it first!”

Social media allowed us to track the motorcade from the moment it left St. Martin’s Church in Houston to the arrival in College Station. Here are some photographs of history. Because I know many of you are familiar with the Texas A&M campus, you will recognize where these photos are taken.

I chose the corner of Olsen and George Bush Drive. This is just across the railroad tracks at Wellborn and George Bush Drive. Blue Bell Park is directly behind me.

This is looking left toward Wellborn Road.  Texas Ave. is about 1.5 miles. Imagine the number of people,

The one below is looking right toward the Bush Library In the distance you can see the police vehicle. Public was not allowed past that point.

Motorcade about to cross RR tracks.

First vehicle behind the hearse and the only beige one in the motorcade. I suspect the former presidents were here.  Second group of vehicles were family and friends.

And then they were gone..

But then there was Aggie Muster. Next year, 2019, will be the official Aggie Muster for the Bush Family. However, last evening the first name called was “Barbara Pierce Bush” and the attendees in Reed Arena and your Aggie Family answered “Here.”