On November 30th, 2018 former President George H.W. Bush “Flew West”.  To my non-pilot readers, this term comes from a poem written by an unknown author during World War One.  The line reads:

“To fly West, my friend, is a flight we must all take for a final check.”

Flying west, from the meat grinder of the “Western Front” in France symbolized returning home, to the pilots of the American, British and Canadian Air Forces, whose life span was measured in hours, not days, for newly arrived aviators at the end of that brutal conflict. At least in spirit, if not physically, they would once again be with their friends and loved ones.

It was touching to hear the final words given by George W. Bush when he eulogized his father at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.  Paraphrasing, he said that his father was once again holding the hand of Barbara, his beloved wife of 73 years standing, who preceded him in death a few months ago.

George Herbert Walker Bush was not a perfect man.  Far from it.  Many of the decisions he made during his one term as President dramatically and negatively affected the lives of American citizens, myself among them.  Because of these actions, He was defeated in his run for a second term by William Jefferson Clinton, a man who would have to stand on tip-toes to touch the soles of his predecessors  feet, but who he befriended in later years. Bush didn’t hold grudges.

However, “Bush ’41” was basically a good man, who wanted to do the right thing.  That was made perfectly obvious by the words spoken by many of those who knew him over the years, and eulogized him at his public funeral this week. 

So, Lt. j.g. Bush, fair winds and clear skies on your flight west.  You will be missed by those who knew you best.  In the end, that is all that matters.