Houston Hosts Public Ceremony For President George H.W. Bush

HOUSTON, TX — The City of Houston and Mayor Sylvester Turner will honor former President George H.W. Bush with a special public tribute across the street from City Hall on Monday night.

The City of Houston will come together for a night of music, prayers, and colorful socks, at 7 p.m. at Hermann Square to pay tribute to Bush, who died at his Tanglewood home in Houston on Friday.

The event, hosted by Mayor Turner and produced by the Mayor's Office of Special Events, is a celebration of life called "A Tribute to President George H.W. Bush."

"President George H.W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush were leading lights among our caring Houston neighbors," Turner said in a statement. "I invite all Houstonians to join us at the tribute."

Clergy organized by Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston will offer shared prayers.At main entrance points to the event, volunteers will collect donations of new pairs of colorful socks to be given later as holiday presents to beneficiaries of the Interfaith Ministries Meals on Wheels program.

Bush was famous for wearing colorful socks.Turner urges attendees to wear their own colorful socks in tribute to the late president.

Musical entertainment will be provided by the Houston Symphony; gospel music star Yolanda Adams, a friend of Bush who sang at many of his birthday parties; country music star Clay Walker, who performed in 2014 at the 25th anniversary of Bush's presidency; and country music stars Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, who befriended Bush in the 1960s.

Further details about additional speakers and/or entertainers will be released as they are confirmed.

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Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

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