good sully
President George H.W. Bush's beloved service dog honored with new statue
By all accounts, President George H.W. Bush adored his service dog, Sully. The feelings were mutual — the devoted Labrador retriever was by the president’s side from June 2018 until his death at age 94, on November 30, 2018.
While thousands made the pilgrimage to honor the beloved president during his public and private funeral ceremonies, few moments were more poignant than that of Sully guarding his master’s flag-draped casket — an image that quickly became viral.
Fans of Sully will delight in the knowledge that the now-famous retriever will be honored with a bronze statue, appropriately titled Sully. The statue will be placed in the permanent collection George HW Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas.
The unveiling will be held on December 2, featuring the artist, Susan Bahary in conjunction with the non-profit organization America’s VetDogs.
The life-size bronze portrays Sully holding his leash in his mouth. The pose was chosen because the artist wanted to “convey Sully’s dedication to the president, while also depicting the ‘retrieve’ task Sully and all service dogs from VetDogs learn to perform for their handlers,” according to a statement.
“I fell in love with Sully,” said Bahary, in a release, “and wanted to capture in life-size bronze the beautiful loyalty and bond that our beloved president inspired in him and that was forever seared in our memories.”
After December 2, fans of 41 and Sully can visit the memorial exhibit. And what of Sully himself? Word is he will carry on his legacy and assist wounded military personnel at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington D.C.
Good dog.
