The nation honors President George H.W. Bush

By Meg Wagner, Veronica Rocha, Brian Ries, Amanda Wills and Jessie Yeung, CNN

Updated 12:02 p.m. ET, December 13, 2018
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11:17 a.m. ET, December 5, 2018

Trump takes his seat in row with former presidents

President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton and former secretary of state (also: former first lady, Democratic presidential nominee) Hillary Clinton sit in the first row at former President George H.W. Bush's funeral. Former President Jimmy Carter is also seated in this row, but not pictured.
President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton and former secretary of state (also: former first lady, Democratic presidential nominee) Hillary Clinton sit in the first row at former President George H.W. Bush's funeral. Former President Jimmy Carter is also seated in this row, but not pictured. CNN

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump have arrived at the Washington National Cathedral for former President George H.W. Bush's funeral. They're sitting next to former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, who greeted them with handshakes when they arrived.

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are also in the row. They did not acknowledge the President.

Former President Jimmy Carter is also seated nearby.

Watch the moment:

11:00 a.m. ET, December 5, 2018

There will be a tribute flight over Bush's final resting place later today

The casket of the remains of former US President George H.W. Bush is carried out of the US Air Force 747, being called 'Special Mission 41' on Dec. 3, 2018 in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
The casket of the remains of former US President George H.W. Bush is carried out of the US Air Force 747, being called 'Special Mission 41' on Dec. 3, 2018 in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

The 89th Airlift Wing will conduct a tribute flight over President George H.W. Bush's final resting place in College Station, Texas, at 5 p.m. ET Wednesday.

"When the President of the United States is onboard the VC-25A, it is commonly referred to as 'Air Force One.' For the mission supporting the State Funeral, the aircraft call sign is Special Airlift Mission 41, in honor of the former President of the United States," the Joint Base Andrews-based unit said in a statement.

Bush's body is set to arrive at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, by Wednesday evening, where it will lie in repose from 6:45 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. central time the following day.

10:51 a.m. ET, December 5, 2018

Chelsea Clinton and Mike Pence greet each other at National Cathedral

Vice President Mike Pence just greeted former first daughter Chelsea Clinton at the Washington National Cathedral ahead of former President George H.W. Bush's funeral.

Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama was seen speaking to Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy.

All four former presidents — Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter — are expected to attend the funeral.

Watch the moment:

10:44 a.m. ET, December 5, 2018

Trump will come face-to-face with all 4 living former US presidents today

From CNN's Kevin Liptak and Jeff Zeleny

In the cavernous sanctuary of the National Cathedral on Wednesday, President Trump will come face-to-face for the first time with his four living predecessors, an encounter occasioned only by a loss to the most exclusive club in American politics -- indeed, in the world.

Trump's election, which came after he demeaned and humiliated the family members of three ex-presidents and made racist insinuations about his predecessor, has shaken the traditional fraternity of past and current commanders in chief.

He has, until now, avoided any encounters with the collected group, and hasn't spoken at all with three of them. He has neither consulted them on issues nor avoided overt criticism of their presidencies, breaking tradition on matters large and small.

For the time he is inside the Cathedral on Wednesday morning, those hurtful slights are likely to remain unmentioned. But few believe the death of President George H.W. Bush will lead to new camaraderie between Trump and the men who served before him. 

The presidents club, by nature, is complicated by past rivalries and future legacies. Yet regardless of party, the members -- so far, all men -- are bound by their singular experience of serving in the Oval Office.

It's impossible to know, at this stage of his presidency, what Trump's ultimate role in the club will be. But he enters the group carrying a long record of dismissive, vitriolic criticism extending well beyond partisan politics.

Keep reading CNN's Kevin Liptak and Jeff Zeleny on this most exclusive club of competitors

10:50 a.m. ET, December 5, 2018

George H.W. Bush's casket leaves the US Capitol to "Hail to the Chief"

Former President George H.W. Bush has been lying in state at the US Capitol since Monday. His casket is now being taken to the Washington National Cathedral for an 11 a.m. ET funeral.

Bush's casket was taken out of the Capitol's Rotunda this morning as "Hail to the Chief" played. A 21-gun salute with cannons also honored the late President.

Bush's family — including his son former President George W. Bush — solemnly looked on as the casket was led down the Capitol steps and placed into a hearse.

Watch the moment:

10:15 a.m. ET, December 5, 2018

Here's the full program for today's funeral

Bush's funeral will begin at 11 a.m. ET at Washington National Cathedral
Bush's funeral will begin at 11 a.m. ET at Washington National Cathedral DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images

Former President George H.W. Bush's funeral at Washington National Cathedral is set to begin at 11 a.m. ET, after an hour of arrivals and a 21-gun salute with cannons.

There will be four eulogies, two readings and plenty of music.

Here's the full program:

  • Organ prelude by George Fergus, an organist with Washington National Cathedral
  • A musical prelude including pieces from the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Marine Orchestra
  • Musical honors, including "Hail to the Chief," by the United States Coast Guard Band
  • The reception of the body
  • The cathedral choir performs “My House Shall be Called a House of Prayer"
  • The anthems in procession with Rev. Russell Levenson, Jr., with St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas
  • Hymn: “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven”
  • The collect for burial, with Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, with the Washington National Cathedral
  • A reading from Lauren Bush Lauren and Ashley Walker Bush
  • A eulogy from Jon Meacham, a presidential historian
  • The cathedral choir performs “The King of Love My Shepherd Is"
  • A reading from Jenna Bush Hager
  • A eulogy from former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney
  • A eulogy from former Sen. Alan K. Simpson
  • Ronan Tynan, the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Marine Orchestra perform “Last Full Measure of Devotion"
  • A eulogy from former President George W. Bush
  • The Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Marine Orchestra perform “O God, Our Help in Ages Past"
10:04 a.m. ET, December 5, 2018

About 3,000 people are inside the cathedral for Bush's state funeral

From CNN's Kevin Bohn 

Former US Vice President Dick Cheney arrives for the funeral service for former US President George H.W. Bush at the National Cathedral in Washington.
Former US Vice President Dick Cheney arrives for the funeral service for former US President George H.W. Bush at the National Cathedral in Washington. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

There's about 3,000 people inside Washington National Cathedral ahead of the state funeral for former President George H.W. Bush, a spokesman for the cathedral said.

The service is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. ET. It will include four eulogies — including one from Bush's son former President George W. Bush — readings and choir performances.

9:48 a.m. ET, December 5, 2018

What we know about George H.W. Bush's state funeral

Former President George H.W. Bush's state funeral will be held today at the Washington National Cathedral.

Bush has been lying in state at the US Capitol building. A departure ceremony is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. ET, and a motorcade will travel through northwest Washington to the National Cathedral.

The invitation-only service at the cathedral is set to begin at 11 a.m. ET. Those close the President will deliver eulogies at the service. They are...

  • Former President George W. Bush
  • Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney
  • Former US Sen. Alan Simpson
  • Presidential historian Jon Meacham, the late President's biographer

After the service, another departure ceremony is scheduled to take place at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at 1:15 p.m. ET.

9:30 a.m. ET, December 5, 2018

Bush once asked if anyone would come to his funeral. Mourners lined up to pay their respects.

People wait in line to pay respects as the remains of former President George H.W. Bush lie in state in the US Capitol's rotunda Tuesday.
People wait in line to pay respects as the remains of former President George H.W. Bush lie in state in the US Capitol's rotunda Tuesday. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

Former President George H.W. Bush was briefed 2011 about his eventual state funeral and the process of lying in state, Jim McGrath, Bush's spokesman, said.

The former President's response was full of humility: "Do you think anyone will come?"

Bush has been lying in state at the US Capitol since Monday. Members of the public lined up for hours to pay their respects to the former President.

A reporter for CNN affiliate WJLA tweeted video showing the massive line:

Bush family members, his former political and government colleagues and his service dog, Sully, all visited. Former Sen. Bob Dole was even helped out of his wheelchair to salute the casket.

President Trump, every living former president and more than a dozen former and current world leaders will all be at his state funeral.