George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, died on Friday night at his home in Houston. He was 94. The late former president George H.W. Bush’s final flights on Air Force One will be called “Special Mission 41,” Bush’s spokesman said Sunday. By tradition, the plane is only called Air Force One when the president is on board.
President Donald Trump will not be travelling on the aircraft, so the plane has been redesignated and renamed to honour Bush this week. Bush’s body will lay in state at the Capitol Rotunda after an arrival ceremony Monday. The public is invited and can pay their respects from Monday evening through Wednesday morning.
The casket will return to Houston on Wednesday afternoon. A public viewing will be held from Wednesday evening until 6 a.m. Thursday. The White House said President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump plan to attend the funeral service Thursday in Houston.