‘A fearless woman who served our country faithfully’

The passing of former first lady Barbara Bush yesterday prompted mourning thousands of miles away from the mainland U.S.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres directed that flags in the CNMI be flown at half-staff in respect for the wife of former President George H.W. Bush.

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) expressed his condolences to the Bush family. Although he did not meet the former first lady,

“…Andrea and I nevertheless extend our deepest condolences to the family of former President George H. W. Bush for the loss of the family matriarch. We shall keep her and the entire Bush family in our prayers,” said Sablan.

He said both the late former first lady and he shared the same goals in promoting literacy.

“She believed that if more people knew how to read and write, ‘we would be closer to solving so many other problems our country faces,’” he said, quoting her, and adding that he made it a personal project to send surplus books from the Library of Congress to schools, public libraries, dialysis centers, the Man’amko Center, and other venues in the Northern Mariana Islands.

Rep. Ivan A. Blanco (R-Saipan) joined the rest of the nation. “As part of the American family, we join so many of our fellow citizens in mourning the passing of former first lady Barbara Bush. We keep the Bush family in our thoughts and prayers,” he told Saipan Tribune.

Barbara Bush, who founded the nonprofit Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, passed away at 92 and is survived by her husband George H.W. Bush, her sons George W. Bush, Neil, Marvin, and Jeb Bush, daughter Doroth Bush Koch, and her 17 grandchildren, CNN reported.

“I am saddened to learn of the passing of former first lady Barbara Bush. Mrs. Bush was a fearless woman who served our country faithfully. She was a staunch advocate for literacy and education,” said Delegate Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU) in a statement.

“Mrs. Bush was loyal in carrying out her duties as first lady and always inspired me through her volunteerism. I join our nation and the people of Guam in mourning her loss. My thoughts and prayers are with her family,” she said.

A statement from the Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel expressed the committee’s sympathy.

“Barbara Bush was known for her immeasurable kindness and generosity as first lady, mother, wife, grandmother, and great-grandmother. An entire nation loved her and admired her unfailing faith,” she said, adding that they were “heartbroken” by the news.

“Barbara Bush’s memory lives on through the love of her family. We at the RNC are praying for peace and blessings for the entire Bush family,” she added.