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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5:22 p.m. ET, December 6, 2018

Remembering George H.W. Bush

We're wrapping up our live coverage, but if you're looking for more on former President George H.W. Bush's memorial services, you can...

  • Read George W. Bush's eulogy at his father's funeral
  • Look through photos of the state funeral
  • Read about the journey to his final resting place
  • Watch Bush's dog Sully bid farewell for the last time
  • Look at George H.W. Bush's life in photos
  • Read why his Capitol Hill ceremony offered a bipartisan moment
5:20 p.m. ET, December 6, 2018

Bush will be buried next to his wife and their daughter

George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara Bush
George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara Bush

Former President George H.W. Bush will be laid to rest on the grounds of the Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas, this evening.

The site is a poignant one: It's also where Bush's wife Barbara, who died in April, and their daughter Robin, who died of leukemia as a child, are buried.

5:06 p.m. ET, December 6, 2018

The funeral train arrives for Bush's burial

The funeral train carrying George H.W. Bush's casket -- a special locomotive dubbed the "Bush 4141" -- just arrived at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

The Bush family just got off the train, and we're new waiting for the arrival ceremony to start.

About 700 to 800 people expected to be in attendance. Guests include students, volunteers and singing cadets, and staff from the Bush Foundation Staff and the Bush Presidential Library and Museum, where he will be interred in a private burial ceremony.

Watch the arrival here:

4:58 p.m. ET, December 6, 2018

United Airlines remembers the 41st president at Gate 41

From CNN's Gisela Grespo

United Airlines posted a photo of a memorial to honor the late former President George H.W. Bush.

The memorial to the 41st president is located in Gate 41 at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas.

The airline wrote on Instagram:

“Today and tomorrow, in remembrance, we have closed Gate C41 at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. We salute the life and legacy of President George H.W. Bush. For all he did for Houston, his home and that of our United family at the airport that bears his name, we will forever be grateful. #Bush41” 

Take a look at the image:

4:45 p.m. ET, December 6, 2018

George W. Bush posted this picture of his father's last ride 

From CNN's Allie Malloy

George W. Bush posted an Instagram photo Thursday afternoon, looking out a train window at the crowds gathered to say a final goodbye to his father, George H.W. Bush.

"Thank you for making 41's last ride so special," the caption read.

The 41st president's casket is currently on a train bound for the Bush Presidential Library and Museum, where he'll be buried.

Here's the image:

George H.W. Bush's spokesperson, Jim McGrath, also tweeted images from aboard the train, including pictures of the casket and massive crowds outside.

3:53 p.m. ET, December 6, 2018

What happens after the train gets to College Station

The flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush passes through Magnolia, Texas, Thursday, along the train route to College Station, Texas.
The flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush passes through Magnolia, Texas, Thursday, along the train route to College Station, Texas. AP Photo/David J. Phillip, Pool

Former President George H.W. Bush's funeral train is currently on a 70-mile journey to Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

The campus is the site of the Bush Presidential Library and Museum. The former president will be laid to rest on the museum's grounds, alongside his wife Barbara and their daughter Robin, who died of leukemia as a child.

There's an arrival ceremony scheduled at Texas A&M University at 4:45 p.m. ET, just as Bush's train arrives.

There will then be another ceremony and the interment at 5:15 p.m. ET at the library.

2:45 p.m. ET, December 6, 2018

Crowds are waiting in the rain to see the "Bush 4141" train

As George H.W. Bush's funeral train — a special locomotive dubbed the "Bush 4141" — made its way to the Bush Presidential Library and Museum, crowds gathered beside the tracks to honor the 41st president.

The window drape has been removed from the train car carrying Bush's body, giving onlookers a clear view of the flag-draped casket.

It's a rainy day in the area. Undeterred, lines of people along the railroad waited for the train to pass by to say their final goodbyes.

Watch people wave to Bush's train:

2:05 p.m. ET, December 6, 2018

George H.W. Bush is taking the "Bush 4141" train

The flag-draped casket of former US President George H.W. Bush is carried by a joint services military honor guard to a Union Pacific train.
The flag-draped casket of former US President George H.W. Bush is carried by a joint services military honor guard to a Union Pacific train. DAVID J. PHILLIP/AFP/Getty Images

President George H.W. Bush is on his way to his final resting place. His casket was just loaded onto the a Union Pacific train led by a locomotive dubbed the "Bush 4141" — a train that was built to honor the President's life.

The funeral train will embark on a 70-mile route, taking Bush from Spring, Texas, to Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, the site of the Bush Presidential Library and Museum. 

Bush will be laid to rest at the library, where both former first lady Barbara Bush and their late daughter Robin are buried.

The Bush 4141 was commissioned to honor the former president in 2005. It's painted to resemble Air Force One with a white body, a presidential seal and and long vertical bars of blue.

Watch below:

12:46 p.m. ET, December 6, 2018

George H.W. Bush's casket leaves the church

Former President George H.W. Bush's casket was just taken out of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston following his funeral.

"Hail to the Chief" played as it was first carried out. The casket was then carried through an honor cordon to the hearse as the band played the hymn "Praise Ye the Lord."

The casket will now be taken to a train specifically built to honor his life, which will carry him to his final resting place.

A Union Pacific train led by a locomotive dubbed the "Bush 4141" will carry Bush's casket to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas.

This isn't an ordinary train: The Bush 4141 is a rare locomotive that was commissioned to honor the former president in 2005. It's one of only a handful of Union Pacific trains to bear a color scheme other than the company's traditional gray and yellow: It's painted to resemble Air Force One.

Watch below: