Remembering President Bush’s North Dakota Centennial Visit
Former President George H.W. Bush will be laid to rest today, but North Dakota remembers when he visited the state in 1989 to join the state's Centennial Celebration.
Just a few months after being sworn in as the 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush came to the state Capitol grounds on April 24, 1989, and would help plant a tree at 'Centennial Grove'.
Due to suffering a harsh winter, the tree would later be removed in 1990.
There were approximately 10,000 people on hand to witness the most notable of numerous trips that President Bush made to the Peace Garden State before and during his presidency.
According to KFYR, the Centennial Celebration Committee for the event was given just three days by the White House to prepare for the president's visit. For the celebration, North Dakota's High School Centennial Band was on-hand to perform and had the chance to play 'Hail to the Chief' for President Bush. The state's High School Centennial Band was made up of 200 teenage musicians from all across North Dakota. Residents in Bismarck-Mandan opened up their homes to host the hundreds of musicians from across the state and their families.
President Bush spoke about the state from the steps of the North Dakota State Capitol on that day. The president's speech included the line: 'Happy Birthday North Dakota and God Bless the United States of America.'