After the deaths of former PresidentGeorge H. W. Bushand former First LadyBarbara BushinNovemberandAprillast year, the nation mourned the loss of two leading public servants.
But for the Bushes themselves, the deaths were much more personal.
Speaking with PEOPLE in this week’s issue,Billy Bush, H. W. Bush’s nephew and first cousin to former PresidentGeorge W. Bush, recalled his uncle’s state funeral in December.
“Many people in the National Cathedral [were] saying, ‘We lost a great statesman, how sad.’ And I said, ‘I lost the guy who spoke at my graduation when I asked him to,’ ” Billy says, beginning to cry as he described another memory.
“I got that from him,” he says, referring to H. W. Bush. “The man cries at everything!”
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Another moment that Billy can’t forget: when, during his first job working for a New Hampshire radio, he was coaching a youth hockey league on the side and asked his uncle to headline a fundraiser.
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His aunt and uncle gave so much of themselves over the years, Billy says. To the country, yes, and to their loved ones.
“They were selfless,” he says. “They loved their families.”
Billy says the funerals were painful: “I went to both … and sat there and cried my eyes out because I remembered just incredible one-on-one moments,” he says.
He thinks of another story, and he tears up again.
“George H. W. Bush wrote each of my children when they were born,” Billy says, crying, but continues, “He wrote them each and said, ‘Welcome to this world. Your parents love you, and you have a dear old uncle who loves you, too.’ “
source: people.com
