Former President George W. Bush welcomed 27 veterans to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, for his 16th annual Warrior Ride, an event honoring their service and recovery ahead of Veterans Day.
“These veterans have overcome a lot… but there’s no self-pity. There’s no, ‘Please feel sorry for me,'” the 43rd president said on Friday.
“They serve as a great example of how to deal with life’s difficulties and recover. I’ve watched a lot of them over the years go from darkness to light,” he said.
Bush’s continued involvement with wounded veterans drew praise from his cousin, Fox News contributor Billy Bush, who emphasized on “The Sunday Briefing” that the former president’s commitment to service members did not end when he left the White House.
“George W. Bush has never wavered,” he said.
“The greatest responsibility of the office is deciding to send troops to war, and inevitably, some get hurt. And for George W., that doesn’t end when you walk out of office. He’s done it 16 years in a row. He’s hopping on his bike and riding with the guys.”
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Bush also cited his cousin’s portraits of wounded warriors as another example of George W. Bush’s continued dedication to veterans.
“Character matters, and his artwork is about wounded warriors. He has really, really lived it all the way through. So hats off to the old man.”
Billy Bush also joked about seeing his 80-year-old cousin back on a bicycle.
“I’m a little nervous seeing him at 80 years old on there. Here he goes. Keep it on the flats, man.”