27 Apr 2024 - George HW Bush Presidential Library and Museum; Texas A&M Baseball with Drew and Dorothy DeHaes

 

Busy day and late night so this post is tardy.  Today (yesterday actually) we spent the morning at the George HW Bush Presidential Library and Museum.  We visited here 19 Jan 2019 but failure of our legislators to pass a budgets there was a partial Government shutdown, so the library and museum were closed, but the atrium and gift shop were open as was the burial site.  so today we revisited this beautiful place, watched the movie and toured the museum.  

The atrium, as far as we made it in 2019

We watched a very informative movie that highlighted the life of 41st President.  He joined the Navy, became a naval aviator and fought in World War II.  He was shot down in the Pacific and two of his crew members perished.  After the war he attended Yale University, married Barbara and completed his studies in just two years. They moved to Texas where he got involved in the oil industry, raised their family and got involved in politics.  The rest is history and I won't try list it all out, but following his Presidency the Bush family returned to Texas to live the rest of their lives.  George H.W. Bush's entire life was dedicated to service, and the museum really emphasizes this.  Barbara Bush is also highlighted with all of her initiatives as First Lady.

Also in the museum at this time is a display of 100 years of Texas A&M football and how the Bush family supported A&M.

  I took over 100 pictures in the museum but will try to keep this brief:

His presidential limo

A replica of his WWII aircraft

1947 Studebaker, a graduation gift from his parents

Doreen and the President chatting about the condition of the Nation!

He was director of the CIA

If I were President for a day...!

.... I would also keep a baseball glove in my desk drawer!

His office at Camp David.  The PC is an IBM!

A tribute to the end of the Cold War.  A piece of the Berlin wall.

A beautiful couple

The situation room as it was for Operation Desert Storm

A father and son

The last time we were here we visited the garden and burial area so we did not revisit that today.  The George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is expanding with the construction of a 29,000 square foot Marine One/4141 Locomotive Pavilion. The pavilion is scheduled to open in June 2024 as part of the centennial commemoration of President George H.W. Bush's birth. 

On the way back to the campground we fueled the truck and stopped at H-E-B for a few supplies.  I really like the selection that H-E-B has.  

Later in the day we attended a Texas A&M baseball game vs Georgia with our great friends and military comrade Drew and Dorothy DeHaes.  Brigadier General (ret)  Drew "Toto" DeHaes served with the same Air National Guard unit that I served.  He was an F16 fighter pilot, served as Wing Commander and then transitioned to Headquarters with me as the Assistant Adjutant General-Air.  After Drew's military retirement they returned to College Station TX and the Texas A&M area where they are proud alumni.  Drew continues his flying with United Airlines.  

Due to the weather forecast the weekend games were rearranged into a Saturday double header, so we met at the stadium for game #2.  

As with most colleges, Texas A&M is steeped in tradition.  When we were here in Jan 2019 they gave us a tour of the campus and pointed out many of the iconic places and the related traditions.  So attending a baseball game here it would only follow then the most appropriate place to sit would be in the student section!  

The A&M baseball team is awesome, second only to Arkansas in the SEC West with a record of 15-6 in the conference. 

We saw some outstanding baseball and truly talented players, but along with that we saw some outstanding A&M traditions!  The support of the team from the students and others is amazing!  The stadium was packed.  And it was LOUD!  And did I mention they have many traditions?!!  One of them is using bubble machines when they score a run (picture above and video below).  

When an opposing pitcher walks an Aggie hitter by throwing four straight balls, the crowd chants "Ball 5" while waving their right hands forward and backward. If the next pitch is also a ball, the crowd chants "Ball 6" and so on.  They relentlessly chant, in a playful way, the pitcher's first name to hopefully distract him.  Fans play "Happy Trails" when an opposing pitcher is removed from the game.  War hymn and Deep in the Heart of Texas: Fans sing "War hymn" and "Deep in the Heart of Texas".  One of the really funny ones is when an Aggie pitcher strikes out an opposing batter,  they play the lead-in video clip and song of the American western TV show "The Rifleman" starring Chuck Connors.  Chuck rapidly discharges his rifle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsitJZUcFL4

  I'm sure I missed a few but the entire experience was a blast!  In between innings we had a chance to talk with Drew and Dorothy a bit and enjoy a cold beverage or two!  A&M lost the final game 4-5 but it was hard fought and we enjoyed it a lot.

This afternoon (Sunday) we plan to meet Drew and Dorothy at their house and then go out for Mexican food at one of their local favorites.