Loyal Secret Service Agents REFUSED To Leave Barbara’s Side… Guarded Her Coffin Overnight

Yesterday I shared with you this breathtakingly powerful image of the Secret Service agents who swore to protect First Lady Barbara Bush until the very end.

Powerful. US Secret Service detail stands at the casket of former First Lady Barbara Bush. Agents have been with her for years and will remain until burial. #BarbaraBush pic.twitter.com/9ZkeNbP2XE

— Kelly O’Donnell (@KellyO) April 20, 2018

U.S. Secret Service agents have continued to watch over “Tranquility” — the Service’s code name for late First Lady Barbara Bush — since her death.

Agents have been by her side since she passed, and her body will be protected until her burial. pic.twitter.com/jAfVxN25pM

— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 20, 2018

What I didn’t realize last night, is that they would go on to guard her overnight, REFUSING to leave her side.

…because to them, she’s family.

According to this:

The Secret Service agents who protected Barbara Bush for two decades after she left the White House have been standing guard over her coffin, refusing to the leave the side of the woman they say treated them like family.

The agents swapped out at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, taking turns on Friday as mourners came in their droves to pay their respects to the former First Lady.

They stood in the background as fans greeted former president George H.W. Bush in his wheelchair, giving a final act of protection to the 92-year-old.

One former agent said they were proud to stand by her side one final time.

‘Agents on her detail, they’re the ones posted around her house all of the time. They’re the ones who bring her shopping. They’re the ones who bring her to events. They are family to her.

‘She was one of the most gracious people we’ve ever protected.

‘She went out of her way to make us feel like part of the Bush family. It was just a wonderful relationship we had,’ former agent Thom Bolsch told ABC 13.

It’s SO clear that anyone who ever knew her absolutely adored her.

John Lopez, a local reporter who was at the church, said they were ‘refusing’ to leave.

‘Barbara Bush’s Secret Service detail, several of whom have been with her for decades, refuse to leave her side until she is buried. Very powerful,’ he tweeted.

Barbara Bush’s Secret Service detail, several of whom have been been with her for decades, refuse to leave her side until she is buried. Very powerful. pic.twitter.com/zAmotYTXsC

— John P. Lopez (@LopezOnSports) April 20, 2018

So beautiful.

Barbara’s code name was ‘Tranquility’ which Secret Service agents said could not have been more fitting.

In a touching tribute to the former First Lady on Friday, written by former agent Jonathan Wackrow for CNN, he said of the name: ‘It exemplified her demeanor and its calming, humanizing and gentle effect on those around her.

‘She will be forever missed.’

One of the agents went on to describe memories of her…

Wackrow nostalgically described two heartwarming moments with Barbara which he said inspired him to continue to serve the ‘sacred institution’ of the First Lady for years to come.

The first was when he had just finished an overnight shift at the Bush summer residence in Maine.

‘In my world, it was better to be unseen, but in this instant, I was in the former first lady’s full view with nowhere to hide.

‘Mrs. Bush gave me the warmest smile and said, “Well, it is good morning for me, but it looks like you have been up all night, so I will wish you a good night’s sleep.” Stunned, I thanked her.’

The second was after she had left the White House and during a trip to New Jersey.

Once they had exited New York City and were in the Garden State, a large, loud, siren-screaming police escort joined their unassuming motorcade.

Wackrow wrote: ‘Typically, this was not the way that the former first lady liked to travel, as it drew undue attention. However, in this instance — with her husband’s presidency behind her — she was thrilled.

‘Taking a quick glance in the rear-view mirror, I could see an amazing smile illuminating her face as she turned to her staff in the back seat, exclaiming, “They remember me! We have not had this much excitement since the White House!”

Before going back to New York City, he explained, Barbara got out of the car to thank all of the officers for giving her ‘such a warm welcome to New Jersey’.

‘I will never forget the image of Mrs. Bush shaking hands with the officers.

‘It was a genuine moment of sincerity and unguarded kindness delivered out of the public eye, which, to me, defined this great woman,’ he said.

She will be truly missed.