VOA慢速英语--老布什被誉为“最后一位伟大的军人政治家”

Bush Remembered as ‘Last Great Soldier-Statesman’

Presidents, a king and queen, a prince, a chancellor¹ and a handyman from Maine joined family and friends to celebrate the life of President George H.W. Bush, Wednesday.

The day began with a 21-gun salute² and the song Hail to the Chief as Bush’s flag-covered casket came down from the Capitol where he had lain in state. The vehicle carrying his casket passed by the White House where Bush had served the country as its 41st president.

At the National Cathedral in Washington D.C, President Donald Trump³ sat next to former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, and their wives. Across the aisle⁴ were Bush’s son George W. Bush, the country’s 43rd president, and the rest of the Bush family.

Presidential historian Jon Meacham called Bush “America’s last great soldier-statesman” in the first of four eulogies⁵. Meacham described how Bush was shot down over the Pacific Ocean as a 20-year-old Navy pilot. He reminded others of how the event shaped Bush’s mission in life.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney praised Bush for his work as a leader. He credited Bush for working to end the Cold War, uniting Germany, leading an international coalition⁶ to free Kuwait from Iraq and creating the North American Free Trade Agreement. He added, “I believe it will be said that no occupant of the Oval Office was more courageous⁷, more principled and more honorable than George Herbert Walker Bush.”

Another family friend, former Senator Alan Simpson, brought laughter to the full cathedral with his story of loyalty⁸ and friendship.

George W. Bush remembered his father as “the brightest of a thousand points of light.” He said his father was someone who “made his children believe anything was possible.” In a lighter⁹ moment, Bush said, “To us he was close to perfect, but not totally perfect…The man couldn’t stomach vegetables, especially broccoli¹⁰.” The late president was known for his dislike of the vegetable.

The son broke down at the end of his eulogy¹¹ while talking about the time his parents lost a young daughter. He added, “Dad is hugging Robin¹² and holding Mom’s hand again.”

The kinder and gentler tone of the state funeral had been set much earlier. The Bush family invited President Donald Trump to attend the event. Trump was not invited to Barbara Bush’s funeral in April or the recent funeral of Senator John McCain.

Earlier in the day, the president tweeted, “This is not a funeral, this is a day of celebration for a great man who has led a long and distinguished¹³ life. He will be missed!”

Representatives from countries around the word included King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan, Prince Charles of Britain, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Polish President Andrzej Duda.

Only people with an invitation could attend the funeral in the cathedral. Among them was Mike Lovejoy, a man who has been fixing things at the Bush’s summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine for many years.

At the end of the state funeral, Bush’s casket returned to Houston to lie in repose¹⁴ at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church.

On Thursday, Bush will be buried on the grounds of his presidential library at Texas A&M University. There, he will be buried next to his wife Barbara Bush and his daughter Robin.

I’m Mario Ritter.

Words in This Story

handyman –n. a person skilled in doing small jobs often around a house

casket –n. a box used for burial, a coffin¹⁵

lie in state –v. when the body of an official is placed in a state building for the public to pay their respects

aisle –n. a passage between one group of seats in a church (theater or airplane) and another

eulogy –n. a speech that praises someone who has died

occupant –n. a person who holds a position at a particular time

principled –adj. having strong beliefs about what is right and wrong

distinguished –adj. known by many people because of some quality or achievement

repose –n. to rest or be lain somewhere

library –n. a place where books, magazines, recordings and other media are available for people to use or borrow

1 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

2 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。

3 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

4 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

5 eulogies   

n.颂词，颂文( eulogy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Her latest film has brought eulogies from the critics. 她最近的这部电影获得影评界的好评。 来自互联网

6 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

7 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

8 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

9 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

10 broccoli   

n.绿菜花，花椰菜

参考例句：

• She grew all the broccoli plants from seed.这些花椰菜都是她用种子培育出来的。
• They think broccoli is only green and cauliflower is only white.他们认为西兰花只有绿色的，而菜花都是白色的。

11 eulogy   

n.颂词；颂扬

参考例句：

• He needs no eulogy from me or from any other man. 他不需要我或者任何一个人来称颂。
• Mr.Garth gave a long eulogy about their achievements in the research.加思先生对他们的研究成果大大地颂扬了一番。

12 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

13 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

14 repose   

v.(使)休息；n.安息

参考例句：

• Don't disturb her repose.不要打扰她休息。
• Her mouth seemed always to be smiling,even in repose.她的嘴角似乎总是挂着微笑，即使在睡眠时也是这样。

15 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。