JUNEAU – Governor Bill Walker today ordered all Alaska state flags to be flown at half-staff beginning Wednesday, April 18, 2018, in honor of former first lady Barbara Bush who passed away April 17, 2018 at the age of 92. The Governor’s order follows a directive from the White House lowering all U.S. flags to half-staff. Mrs. Bush served as First Lady from 1989 to 1993, and is one of only two women to serve both as the wife and mother of an American president.

Born in New York City, Barbara Bush met George Herbert Walker Bush at a dance in Connecticut at 16. The two married while he was on leave from serving in WWII as a Navy pilot in 1945. They were married for the next 73 years, longer than any Presidential couple in history. They had six children, 14 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Bush accompanied her husband during his terms as a Texas Congressman, and when he served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. They moved to China together in the early 70s, when the country was mostly closed to foreigners and he was appointed as a liaison to the region. They returned to the U.S. when he came back to serve as the director of the C.I.A, and then as Vice President under President Reagan. Mrs. Bush spent eight years as Second Lady, and four as First Lady. [xyz-ihs snippet=”adsense-body-ad”]She championed literacy and family issues during her time in the White House, and was known for being kind, down-to-earth, and devoted to her family. It was announced earlier this week that she was in declining health, and would forgo further medical treatment to focus on comfort care at home.

“Our condolences go to the Bush family, and to all those who were inspired by Barbara Bush’s integrity and honesty as a public servant and role model,” Governor Walker said. “Her focus on family and literacy is something both First Lady Donna and I admire. We both wish her family well.”

Flags should return to full-staff at sunset on the day of her burial, Saturday, April 21, 2018.

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