Former President George H.W. Bush’s service dog, Sully, hasn’t left the side of his late master just yet.
Sully, a 2-year-old golden Labrador, will accompany Bush’s casket on the flight to Washington, D.C., sources told CNN.
Bush spokesman Jim McGrath shared a photo Sunday evening of Sully laying on the floor next to Bush’s casket, which was draped with an American flag. “Mission complete,” he wrote.
Mission complete. #Remembering41 pic.twitter.com/rXdyXAS4lk
— Jim McGrath (@jgm41) December 3, 2018
Bush had a number of health issues in his later years, including vascular parkinsonism, a condition similar to Parkinson’s disease, and got around in a wheel chair for roughly the last six years of his life.
Bush welcomed Sully into his family in June after Bush’s wife Barbara died in April. He was trained by the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs, which matches veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with disabilities with service dogs at no cost.
A great joy to welcome home the newest member of our family, “Sully,” a beautiful — and beautifully trained — lab from @AmericasVetDogs. Could not be more grateful, especially for their commitment to our veterans. pic.twitter.com/Fx4ZCZAJT8
— George Bush (@GeorgeHWBush) June 25, 2018
Less than a month ago, McGrath shared a photo of Sully accompanying Bush to the polls to cast his ballot for the 2018 midterm elections. “The 41st President accompanied by his two best friends — Jim Baker and Sully — discharging his civic duty and voting today,” McGraph said, captioning the photo which included former Secretary of State Jim Baker.
The 41st President accompanied by his two best friends — Jim Baker and Sully — discharging his civic duty and voting today. pic.twitter.com/1sSvkmWMQQ
— Jim McGrath (@jgm41) November 1, 2018
After a holiday season stay at America’s VetDogs in Smithtown, N.Y., the group said on its Facebook account said that Sully will eventually join the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s Facility Dog Program where he will be “working alongside fellow VetDogs facility dogs SGT Dillon and SGT Truman who are there to assist with physical and occupational therapy to wounded soldiers and active duty personnel during their journey to recovery at Walter Reed Bethesda.”
“As much as our family is going to miss this dog, we’re comforted to know he’ll bring the same joy to his new home, Walter Reed, that be brought to 41,” former President George W. Bush, the son of George H.W. Bush, wrote on Instagram.
Bush died Friday at his home in Houston at the age of 94. He’ll be transported to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Monday morning on what McGrath described as “Special Mission 41” aboard Air Force One.
Air Force One has arrived in Houston for what will technically be called “Special Air Mission 41” tomorrow and Wednesday. A beautiful day In Texas — “ceiling and visibility unlimited,” Mr. President. #Remembering41 #CAVU pic.twitter.com/F1xWzDxd04
— Jim McGrath (@jgm41) December 2, 2018
He will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda from Monday through Wednesday morning, after which a funeral will take place at the Washington National Cathedral.
Afterwards, Bush will be transported back to Texas where he will be buried at the Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M alongside Barbara Bush and their daughter Robin, who died in 1953 at 3 years old due to leukemia.
