Jenna Bush Hager celebrated her late grandfather’s legacy Sunday while attending the return party for the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier in Norfolk, Virginia.
The Today host, 41, watched as 5,000 sailors reunite with their loved ones after spending nearly nine months in Europe and the Mediterranean aboard the giant aircraft carrier named after the 41st president and naval aviator.
“Any assignment aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush holds special meaning for me and my family because it was my grandfather’s greatest legacy,” Bush Hager explained in his book. The emotional part that aired on Monday.
Bush joined the United States Navy on his eighteenth birthday on June 12, 1942, and became one of the youngest naval pilots of World War II.
Jenna Bush Hager, 41, paid tribute to her late grandfather Sunday while attending the homecoming of the USS George HW Bush in Norfolk, Virginia.
Today’s host watched 5,000 sailors reunite with their loved ones after spending nearly nine months in Europe and the Mediterranean aboard the supercarrier.
The supercarrier is named after her paternal grandfather, former President George HW Bush. I attended the ship’s christening with him in 2006 (pictured)
In 1944, he began launching torpedo bombers from aircraft carriers in the Pacific theater. In September of that year, he was leading one of the four planes attacking Japanese installations at Chichijima when his plane was shot down.
With the engine blazing, he managed to release his bombs before parachuting into the water. He hit his head on the plane during the jump and was later rescued by a US submarine.
Two of his crew – William G. White and John Delaney – did not survive.
Bush’s gallantry during the mission earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. He flew a total of 58 combat missions during the war.
He completed a total of eight skydives in memory of his late crew members.
previous president He celebrated his 75th, 80th, 85th and 90th birthdays by skydiving with the Golden Parachute Team before his death at the age of 94 in 2018.
Bush Hager was with her paternal grandfather when the USS George HW Bush was christened in 2006 and knew how much the honor meant to him.
“He loved seeing these brave men and women raise the rails as they prepared to enter the harbour,” she said.
Bush joined the United States Navy on his eighteenth birthday on June 12, 1942, and became one of the youngest naval pilots of World War II.
Bush flew a total of 58 combat missions during the war and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry
Bush Hager sat front row at the port’s intimate get-togethers, chatting with sailors and their families after they arrived.
Naval Air Controller Craig Holloway met his infant son, Vincent, for the first time, and gave him a loving kiss on the forehead as he held him.
“There were 26 men who had never met their children before, who were able to hold their newborn children — some as young as eight months old — for the first time,” Bush Hager told her co-stars on Monday’s show.
Chief Stephen Faiza wrote love letters to his wife, Lisa, during his post and hand-delivered them to her after they shared a hug and a kiss.
Bush Hager spoke to the sailors and their families on the ship’s return home in a segment that aired on Monday’s Today Show.
‘He would have loved to see these brave men and women raise the rails as they prepared to come into port,’ she said of her late grandfather.
Naval air traffic controller Craig Holloway met his infant son, Vincent, for the first time after arriving home Sunday.
President Stephen Faiza delivered the love letters he wrote to his wife, Lisa, during his service
Lt. Cornetha Williams is reunited with her husband and their children, 13-year-old Elijah, and three-year-old daughter, Samara.
He explained that he wanted to “just let her know she was always on his mind,” saying that writing the letter helped him through his outburst.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Cornetha Williams reunited with her husband and their children, 13-year-old Elijah and three-year-old daughter, Samara. She noted that they had been longer since she last saw them eight and a half months ago.
“This is one of the greatest sacrifices I have to make as a mother and as a wife to come here every day to stand up for freedom for the United States,” she told Today. My husband understands. He catches the house.
We go away for the weekend to cover a story and we miss our kids like crazy. Imagine nine months? Bush Hager co-host Carson Daly said after watching the clip.
Bush Hager encouraged everyone to attend one of these home visits to help “welcome our heroes back” if they could.
“I think sometimes we forget how much they sacrifice,” she told her co-stars on Monday’s show.
“It was a day I will never forget,” Bush Hager added.
Bush Hager noted that sailors cannot confront their families while deployed due to national security.
“I think sometimes we forget how much they sacrifice,” she said.
The former First Daughter encouraged everyone to attend one of these home visits to help “welcome our heroes back” if they could.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said of the families she spoke with. “There were 5,000 people back yesterday, so there were 5,000 of those moments.”
“It was a day I will never forget,” she added.
