Former President George H.W. Bush returns to capital to lie in state

George H.W. Bush came back to Washington for a final time Monday, heading for the Capitol to lie in state as the nation paid tribute to the 41st president for a lifetime of service that began in the Navy during World War II, ended with four years as president and was characterized throughout by what admirers say was decency, generosity and kindness.

Section:Gallery

Mon., Dec. 3, 2018

The flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush is carried by a joint services military honor guard to lie in state in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Washington.

Win Mcnamee Associated Press
The U.S. flag flies at half-staff at the U.S Capitol in Washington, Monday, Dec. 3, 2018 in honor of former President George H.W. Bush. The remains of former President George H.W. Bush left Houston onboard Special Air Mission 41 on its way to Washington where he will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol from Dec. 3 until Dec. 5.

Jose Luis Magana Associated Press
Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush walk past the flag draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush in the Capitol Rotunda, Monday, Dec. 3, 2018 in Washington.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais Associated Press
Jenna Bush Hager, left, and Lauren Bush attend an arrival service for former President George H.W. Bush in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, Monday, Dec. 3, 2018.

Jonathan Ernst Associated Press
The casket bearing the remains of former President George H.W. Bush arrives at the U.S. Capitol as former President George H.W. Bush lies in state at the rotunda in Washington, Monday, 3, 2018.

Brendan Smialowski Associated Press
Neil Bush, center left, and Marvin Bush, center right, sons of former President George H. W. Bush, and members of the family, watch as a military honor guard carries the casket of their father into the Capitol Rotunda, Monday, Dec. 3, 2018 in Washington.

Win Mcnamee Associated Press
A group of nuns view the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush as he lies in state in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, Monday, Dec. 3, 2018.

Andrew Harnik Associated Press
Vice President Mike Pence speaks as former President George H. W. Bush lies in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Washington.

Morry Gash Associated Press
Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush look on as joint service members of a military casket team carry the casket of former President George H.W. Bush into the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Dec. 3, 2018.

Shawn Thew Associated Press
The flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush lies in state in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, Monday, Dec. 3, 2018.

Jonathan Ernst Associated Press
President Trump salutes as he and first lady Melania Trump pay their respects as former President George H. W. Bush lies in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Washington.

Morry Gash Associated Press
Former President George H. W. Bush lies in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Washington.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais Associated Press
A member of the military stands watch over the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, Monday, Dec 3, 2018.

Brendan Smialowski Associated Press
A joint services military honor guard carries the casket of former President George H.W. Bush into the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington to lie in state, Monday, Dec. 3, 2018.

Doug Mills The New York Times
With the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush aboard at Ellington Field, Special Air Mission 41 prepares to depart, Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Houston.

Eric Gay Associated Press
Family members gather before the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush is loaded onto Special Air Mission 41, the plane that will head to Washington for funeral services, Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Houston. Grandson Pierce Bush is at center.

David J. Phillip Associated Press
The flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush is carried by a joint services military honor guard to Special Air Mission 41 at Ellington Field during a departure ceremony Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Houston.

Eric Gay Associated Press
Sully, the yellow Labrador retriever who was former President George H.W. Bush's service dog, stands next to Bush family members during a departure ceremony at Ellington Field Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Houston.(

David J. Phillip Associated Press
The flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush is carried by a joint services military honor guard to Special Air Mission 41 at Ellington Field during a departure ceremony Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Houston.

David J. Phillip Associated Press
Former President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush wave as they board Special Air Mission 41 at Ellington Field during a departure ceremony for a state funeral for former President George H.W. Bush, Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at Ellington Field in Houston.

Eric Gay Associated Press
Members of the U.S. Marine Corps in their dress greens stand outside the George H. Lewis and Sons Funeral Home, before the first departure ceremony for the State Funeral of president George H.W. Bush to Ellington Field Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Houston.

Godofredo A. Vasquez Houston Chronicle
The U.S. flag flies at half-staff at the U.S Capitol in Washington, Monday, Dec. 3, 2018 in honor of former President George H.W. Bush. The remains of former President George H.W. Bush left Houston onboard Special Air Mission 41 on its way to Washington where he will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol from Dec. 3 until Dec. 5.

Manuel Balce Ceneta Associated Press
People watch the departure ceremony for former President George H.W. Bush at Ellington Field Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Houston.

David J. Phillip Associated Press
From left, Steve Duensing of Salt Lake City, and Jan Fitzpatrick of Kennebunkport, Maine, look at the official portrait of former President George H.W. Bush as it is draped in black cloth at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, to mark his passing. Fitzpatrick visited the Bush vacation house in her home town and has traveled to Washington for Bush to lay in state at the Capitol building this week.

Andrew Harnik Associated Press
This Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 photo, Sully, President George H.W. Bush's service dog lies in front of his casket in Houston. The 41st president died Friday at his home in Houston at 94.

Evan Sisley Office George H.W. Bush