This is one of those moments in time, that I just couldn’t let pass by without being a part of it. Truly a once in a lifetime experience to witness the funeral processional of a former president so close to home.
There is an Aggie saying, “From the outside looking in, you can’t understand it. From the inside looking out, you can’t explain it.”
That is the only way I can quite put into words the experience of witnessing George Bush Sr.’s final flyover College Station on Air Force One, and his trip on the train pulled by Engine 4141.
The series of events started with a trip to College Station to witness Air Force One fly over Texas A&M University before heading to Houston. I underestimated the amount of traffic there would be trying to get onto campus for the perfect spot, we ended up stopping at Kyle Field which worked out well. As Air Force One flew over I couldn’t help but be in awe of the fact that #1. A former president’s final wishes would be to take one final flight over Texas A&M University, #2. That it was happening on Air Force One, and #3. The number of people that showed up to witness this event and pay their final tribute.
What you may not know is that the Bush Family has a library at Texas A&M. The Bush Library posts a beautiful lake and garden area, and is the site of one of my very first sessions when I started my business in college. They also have a family cemetery down behind the library, I was always surprised by how many people didn’t realize the cemetery was back there.
The Bush Family has a huge presence in Houston, form sporting events to musicals, they have been spotted around Houston for a long time…if you grew up in Houston I can almost guarantee you spotted the Bush Family at some point in your life. For me that time was at a musical with my family when I was a kid, I remember seeing George Sr. and Barbara surrounded by their secret service just one section away at the round theatre. So many kids were going up to them and talking to them, asking for an autograph but I was too chicken…by the time I finally worked up the nerve the show was about to start again and secret service were turning people away.
The next stop would be to watch the train pass through Magnolia, my Mom, Sister, and I set up in what we thought would be the perfect spot hours before the train’s expected arrival. It was incredible to witness the crowds of people that surrounded the train tracks all over Houston, we watched live views on the news as the train made it our way.
In that very moment when you don’t want to miss the shot, I couldn’t help but freeze and take it all in. When I witnessed the armed soldier standing guard by the casket I couldn’t help but stop for a moment and just look with my own eyes, the train was moving so fast at the point we were at, but just that brief glimpse left me frozen.
After the train passed, we jumped in the car and headed to College Station, we arrived just minutes after the train arrived, but we were able to witness the flyover. Just when you think you have seen a ton of people, you realize that the sea of people in College Station that showed up to witness the train rolling into town and pay tribute to Bush Sr. was enormous. Larger than any crowd I have ever seen outside of a football game at Texas A&M which says a lot.
