Bush Ties to Cape Cod Remembered as Nation Mourns

HYANNIS – As the nation remembers George H.W. Bush, local residents are reflecting on the 41st President’s ties to Cape Cod.

In 2016, Bush and his wife, Barbara, hosted a special screening of the film “The Finest Hours” in Houston.

The movie chronicles what is considered to be the greatest small boat rescue in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard, which took place off Chatham during a Nor’easter in 1952.

Local Author Casey Sherman, who wrote the book which inspired the film attended the screening with hundreds of Coast Guard personnel to raise funds for the National Coast Guard Museum.

“President Bush was a strong proponent of the Coast Guard and its mission,” Sherman said.

George and Barbara were inspired by what they saw in the film, according to Sherman.

“Like the men depicted in film “The Finest Hours” President Bush was part of that “Greatest Generation” and he could really identify with the characters and the heroes of that film because he was a hero himself.”

Bush served in the U.S. Navy between 1942 and 1945. He spent time during his service in Hyannis for training at Barnstable Municipal Airport.

Sherman said he presented copies of his book to both Bush and his wife.

“I could see his eyes light up because he knew it was a story about the sea, which he had a beautiful relationship and a love affair with going back to his days in Kennebunkport,” Sherman said. “And he really understood the sacrifice and the courage of these men in 1952.”

Bush visited Mashpee in November of 1990 to campaign for gubernatorial candidate William Weld and John Rappaport, who was running for U.S. Senate.

Bush will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol rotunda for public visitation through tomorrow.

An invitation-only funeral service will follow at Washington National Cathedral before his casket returns to Houston for burial.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this article.

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