Jenna Bush Hagerleft her Today colleagues in tears on Wednesday morning as she shared an emotional tribute to her late grandfather, George H. W. Bush, on what would have been his 100th birthday.
Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin, and Savannah Guthrie were all left fighting back tears as a pre-recorded segment saw Jenna, 42, read out a beautiful letter to the former President, who passed away in November 2018 at the age of 94.
Her letter began: 'Dear Gampi, we miss you. We miss your letters and e-mails. We miss racing through the waves of the Atlantic on your boat, fishing, laughing and debating around the dinner table.
'We miss your rules. Don't be afraid to shed a tear when your heart is broken or because a friend is hurting. Nobody likes an overbearing big shot. And as you succeed, be kind to people. Thank those that help you along the way.'
The mother-of-three continued: 'We miss your quiet compassion, like the time you shaved your head for the son of a Secret Service agent that had leukemia. We miss your belief that we are better when we work together. And your lifelong devotion to our country as one of the youngest Navy pilots in World War II.
Jenna Bush Hager became teary-eyed on Wednesday's episode of Today as she paid tribute to her grandfather, George H. W. Bush
Craig Melvin, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Carson Daly were all touched by Jenna's letter to her grandfather on what would have been his 100th birthday
Jenna Bush Hager shares a touching tribute to her late grandfather George H.W. Bush, who wrote letters to those he loved — and she wrote a personal letter to him on what would have been his 100th birthday. pic.twitter.com/d0SMFBEJCQ
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 12, 2024
'We remember your love of skydiving this week. Many of your grandkids inspired by you will jump out of a plane. Your milestone birthday tradition that you so proudly did in honor of our nation's military and your service.'
Jenna ended her heartfelt letter by saying: 'You have been gone for eight years, but we feel you still as we look into the sky and see a thousand points of light. And simple acts of love. And in the smiles of your great grandchildren. Devotedly, Jenna.'
As the show cut back to the studio, Craig, 45, tried his best to compose himself as Jenna also fought back tears.
'You know, it's so crazy, and I know many of you have lost people you love, how when you mark an occasion after they're gone, it is really hard to even believe it's been eight years since I've gotten to see him,' she told her cohosts as Hoda, 59, wiped away tears.
The mom-of-two told Jenna: 'The life lessons he taught that you summed up in that short piece were incredible, and what struck me so was the kindness. It's like, we're better when we're kinder.'
Craig then commented: 'I mean, listen, your family obviously misses him. America misses him. America missesGeorge H. W. Bush, in a big way,' as Savannah added: 'And the integrity. Just a better time, where people talked about kindness.
'And I think we can all learn from it, it's not over.But he would say - and he loved this - he would sit around with friends of all different face, of all different political parties, and he loved to debate, that was his favorite thing to do.
'We would sit at that table and sometimes there were tears, sometimes there was anger, but there was always love at the root of it. So I would say, think about all of those that came before, the greatest generation.'
Jenna and her twin sister, Barbara, pictured with their 'Gampi'George H. W. Bush
In a sweet letter, Jenna told her grandfather that she and her family miss him and his 'quiet compassion'
'When we looked at D-Day last week, let's learn from them and their sacrifice of service and family and love. But also, conversations and gentleness,' Jenna added.
Her touching tribute comes after she broke down in tears on Today with Hoda & Jenna last week when she shared some of the life advice her grandfather had shared with her before his passing.
Hoda and Jennawere discussing the trailer for the new Hulu documentary Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge, when Jenna said some of the designer's comments made her think of her late relative.
'Watching that, it reminded me of this evening I spent with my grandpa, and he could barely speak, and I was sitting between him and he leaned over to me and he's like, "Don't forget to enjoy the game,"' Jenna recalled.
'And it was at the end of his life, sort of the beginning of mine, and to hear somebody that had done everything be like, "Don't forget to like be in it, to enjoy it, to be a part of it," I'll never forget it,' the TV host continued with tears in her eyes.
'It's what I want to tell all of us,' she said, as Hoda butted in: 'While we are in the middle of it right now!' as Jenna continued: 'And the middle of it is hard, right? And there's tedious moments, but I think what we've got to do is... that tediousness is the beauty.'
