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George W. Bush delivers emotional eulogy to father, remembers late mother and sister

Posted at 1:20 PM, Dec 05, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-05 13:57:31-05

President George W. Bush gave a tearful eulogy to his father, President George H.W. Bush, Wednesday at a state funeral for the 41st president of the United States.

The younger Bush choked up as he quoted his father's inaugural address from 1989.

"In his inaugural address, the 41st President of the United States said this: 'We cannot hope to only leave our children a bigger car, a bigger bank account,'" Bush said. "'We must hope to give them a sense of what it means to be a loyal friend, a loving parent. A citizen who leaves who home, his neighborhood and his town a better place than when he found it. What do we want the men and women who work with us to say when we are no longer there? That we were more driven to succeed than anyone around us, or that we stopped to ask if a sick child had gotten better and stayed a moment there to trade a moment of friendship.'"

Photos: State funeral for George H.W. Bush

"Well, Dad, we're going to remember you for exactly that and much more," Bush continued. "And we're going to miss you. Your decency, sincerity and kind soul will stay with us forever. So through the tears, let us know the blessing of knowing and loving you, a great and noble man. The best father a son or daughter could have."

At this point, Bush stuttered and took a moment to choke back tears.

"And in our grief, let us smile knowing that dad is hugging Robin and holding Mom's hand again."

Robin was George H.W. Bush's second child and first daughter. She died of cancer in 1953 at the age of 3.

Watch Bush's eulogy to his father in the player below.

Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.