Texans welcome Bush home
Waving cardboard red, white and blue “W”s, thousands welcomed George Bush and his wife Laura to their post-presidential home in Texas.
“The presidency was a joyous experience, but as great as it was, nothing compares with Texas at sunset,” Mr Bush said to cheers from the crowd of about 25,000.
“Tonight I have the privilege of saying six words that I have been waiting to say for a while – it is good to be home.”
In the hours leading up to his return, excerpts of some of Mr Bush’s speeches played on a large TV screen, including remarks he made to Congress shortly after the terrorist attacks in 2001.
One little boy waved a sign that read “President Bush, thank you for keeping me safe” in multi-coloured lettering.
“It’s a special day, but it’s a sad day,” said Dudley Winn, a cotton farmer who drove two hours from Lubbock to greet Mr Bush on his first stop after leaving office.
“He did the job we asked him to do. He kept our values safe.”
The jet carrying the Bushes landed at the airport in Midland shortly before 5pm local time.
Jan Rhodes, a teacher in Midland, was on hand when the former Texas governor left Midland eight years ago for his inauguration as president.
“We watched for eight years and we’re proud of how he served us and how he represented Midland,” she said.
While Mr Bush was born in New Haven, Connecticut, he spent his childhood in Midland. He returned there as an adult in the 1970s and met the future first lady, who grew up there.
After the Midland rally, the Bushes were flying to Waco and then continuing to their 1,600-acre ranch in nearby Crawford.
