Some people placed flowers and candles at the base of the statue, while others simply kneeled at the former president's feet, reflecting his legacy.
"What comes to my mind is a man of dignity and honor. He's of an age when politicians really were honorable people, and his passing is an indication of a bygone era now," said Sean Theriault.
Many people are remembering Bush's ability to reach across an aisle and build bridges with Democratic politicians.
"That's what I'll remember the most about him," said Michael Verm. "Plus watching him at the Astros games."
Several veterans also stopped by the statue to pay their respects, saying that Bush's willingness to enlist in the Navy at the age of 18 says a lot about his character.
"It's always emotional to think of all the service men and women who serve our country," said Anthony Bristol.
Karen Wilshire brought her 10-year-old son Will to the monument.
"I think it's important for our children to understand the history of what this man did for our country," said Wilshire. "His dedication to service, to the city of Houston and to the people of Houston."
PHOTOS: George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush through the years
George Bush is shown with wife Barbara in 1945. (AP Photo)none
In this 1964 file photo, George H.W. Bush sits on couch with his wife Barbara and their children. George W. Bush sits at right behind his mother. Behind couch are Neil and Jebnone
George H. W. Bush with his wife, Barbara, and their children Pauline and George W. on horse in the yard of their Midlands, Texas ranch.none
(Original Caption) George W. Bush with his father George Bush and mother Barbara in Rye (New York). (Photo by Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc/Sygma via Getty Images)none
(Original Caption) George Bush, Neil, George W. Bush, Barbara, Jeb and Marvin. (Photo by Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc/Sygma via Getty Images)none
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George Herbert Walker Bush poses with his wife Barbara during his campaign for Congress in the 1960's.none
United States Ambassador to the United Nations (and future US President) George H.W. Bush sits with his wife, Barbara Bush, and the couple's daughter, Dorothy in DC in 1971none
U.S. Vice President George H. W. Bush, right, and his wife Barbara Bush pose in front of the Taj Mahal on Saturday, May 13, 1984, Agra, India. (AP Photo/Sondeep Shankar)none
President Reagan shares a laugh with first lady Nancy Reagan and the Bushes at night on Wednesday, August 22, 1984 in Dallas after the Republican National Conventionnone
Senate candidate George Bush shows a victory sign as he and his wife Barbara stand in front of a vote machine November 3, 1964 in Houston just before casting their ballot.none
George Bush is sworn in as new director of the CIA by Supreme Court Associate Justice Potter Stewart, left, as Mrs Barbara Bush and President Gerald Ford, at right, look onnone
President Gerald Ford and first lady Betty Ford visit with George Bush, chief of the United States Liaison office, and his wife Barbara at the U.S. Liaison in Peking, China, Dec. 4none
President-elect Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy wave from the balcony at the Kennedy Center on Jan. 18, 1981, where they attended a concert George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara.none
U.S. Vice-President George H.W. Bush and wife Barbara Bush as they toured the Guilin area, Oct. 13, 1985 in China. (AP Photo/Neal Ulevich)none
With King Hussein of Jordan, at the helm, VP George H. W. Bush, and their wives, Barbara Bush, second from left, and Queen Noor, cruise while staying at the king's guest housenone
VP George Bush and wife, Barbara, wave to supporters that turned out in Houston to hear him announce he was a candidate for the Republican nomination for president on Oct. 12, 1987none
George Bush and his wife Barbara cast their votes in Houston for the Texas senate primary race, June 6, 1964.none
Former President Ronald Reagan, his wife Nancy Reagan, new first lady Barbara Bush and her husband President George Bush, right, walk down the Capitol steps after the inaugurationnone
Republican presidential candidate George H.W. Bush, with wife Barbara looking on, speaks to a gathering at a GOP Victory '88 reception held at the Ontario Hilton Hotel June 6, 1988none
VP George Bush and his wife Barbara Bush are shown during a fundraiser in Washington where he picked up the endorsement of President Reagan in his bid to become the next presidentnone
President-elect George H.W. Bush, right, and his wife Barbara, wave to the crowd at a victory celebration rally, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 1988, Houston, Tex. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)none
President-elect George Bush and his wife Barbara are shown during a morning beachfront news conference in Gulf Stream, Fla., Nov. 14, 1988.none
President-elect George Bush and his wife Barbara are shown during a morning beachfront news conference in Gulf Stream, Fla., Nov. 14, 1988.none
President George H.W. Bush, left, and first lady Barbara Bush smile as well-wishers wave U.S. flags upon their arrival on the south lawn of the White House in DC July 18, 1989.none
VP George H.W. Bush, right, and his Barbara Bush talk to reporters after a press conference outside their home, Sept. 3, 1988, Washington, D.C. Bush said he was standingnone
Pres. George H. W. Bush, left, and First Lady Barbara Bush wave to U.S Marines at the desert encampment during a Thanksgiving visit, Thursday, Nov. 22, 1990, Saudi Arabia.none
U.S. President George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara smile as the audience applauds after the president spoke July 12, 1989 at Karl Marx University of Economics in Budapest.none
President-elect George Bush and wife Barbara during a beach front news conference, Monday, Nov. 14, 1988 in Gulf Stream, Fla.none
Vice President George H. W. Bush, center, poses with his family outside St. Anns Church, Sunday, Aug. 8, 1988, Kennebunkport, Me.none
President-elect George Bush and his wife Barbara are shown during a morning beachfront news conference in Gulf Stream, Fla., Nov. 14, 1988.none
Pres. George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush return to the White House from Camp David and are met by the family dogs, Sunday, Sept. 16, 1990, Washington, D.C.none
Vice President George H.W. Bush, right, and his Barbara Bush, holding the family dog, talk to reporters after a press conference outside their home, Sept. 3, 1988, Washington, D.C.none
Pres. George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush, center, smile and wave a final goodbye to Soviet Pres. Mikhail Gorbachev and his wife at the completion of the four-day superpower summitnone
Pres. George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush, and their guests, West German Chancellor Halmt Kohl and French President Francois Mitterrand at the Economic Summit, Houstonnone
President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush accompany Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip across the South Lawn of the White House.none
Barbara Bush watches as President George H. Bush reels in a fish aboard their boat fidelity on Wednesday morning, August 7, 1991 just off shore from their vacation homenone
U.S. President George Bush and first lady Barbara Bush stand at attention together with Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko during a ceremony in Tokyo, Jan. 8, 1992.none
Entertainer Bob Hope applauds as President George H. W. Bush kisses his wife Barbara during a pre-election rally at the Astro Arena in Houston in this Nov. 2, 1992 file photo.none
First lady Barbara Bush smiles standing by donkey as President George H.W. Bush looks on at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Feb. 28, 1992 in Houston.none
The Bushes made an impromptu stop at the Houston Rodeo to shake hands with people attending the event. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)none
President George Bush awards Sam Walton the Medal of Freedom as first lady Barbara Bush looks on during ceremonies at Wal-Mart headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., March 17, 1992.none
First lady Barbara Bush wags a finger at a donkey as President George H.W. Bush looks on at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Feb. 28, 1992 in Houston.none
Pres. Bush George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush wave goodbye as Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu choppers away from the Presidents home in Mainenone
President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush walk arm in arm towards Marine one on the lawn of the White House, Washington on Sunday, Oct. 11, 1992.none
Pres. George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush, and their guests, West German Chancellor Halmt Kohl and French President Francois Mitterrand at the Economic Summit, Houstonnone
Pres. George H. W. Bush, left, and First Lady Barbara Bush wave as they arrive at Newark International Airport on their way to New York, Saturday, Sept. 29, 1990, Newark, N.J.none
Former President George H.W. Bush, first lady Laura Bush, President Bush, and former first lady Barbara Bush wave to reportersnone
In this March 29, 2015, former President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara Bush, left, speak before the NCAA basketball tournament in Houston.none
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Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former President George H.W. BushAP
President George W. Bush, poses with President-elect Barack Obama, and former presidents, from left, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009.none
The Bush family and the royal family pose for photographs on May 8, 2007.none
Former President George H.W. Bush is celebrating his 90th birthday at his family's seaside retreat in Maine.none
Former President George H. W. Bush waves to the crowd on the fifth hole during a four-ball match at the Ryder Cup PGA golf tournament Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012.none
Former President George H. W. Bush attends the final round of the Houston Open golf tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2014, in Humble, Texas.none
Former President George H. W. Bush rides tandem with Sgt. Michael Elliott of the Army Golden Knights parachute team as he celebrates his 85th birthday June 12, 2009.none
In this Friday, Dec. 26, 2008 file photo, former President George H.W. Bush, right, and Barbara Bush walk their dog after arriving aboard Air Force One, in Waco, Texas.none
President Barack Obama is introduced by former President George H.W. Bush at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, Friday, Oct. 16, 2009.none
Tiger Woods and former U.S. President George H.W. Bush ride in a golf cart towards the first tee for a ceremony during the AT&T Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am, July 4, 2007.none
Former President George H. W. Bush drives his speedboat while President Bush and his brother, Jeb Bush hold on during a fishing trip Aug. 10, 2007, off Kennebunkport, Maine.none
Former US President George H. W. Bush poses with the Texas Poms during half time at the NCAA South Regional basketball final, March 30, 2008.none
Former President George H. W. Bush displays a tarpon he caught and released April 19, 2008, while fishing with George Wood off the Florida Keys.none
President George H. Bush playing tennis in California in April of 1991.none
Texas Gov. Rick Perry talks with former President George H.W. Bush before an NCAA college football game between Texas and Texas A&M on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009.none
In this May 31, 2012 file photo, former President George H.W. Bush, left, and his wife, former first lady Barbara Bush, arrive in the East Room of the White House in Washington.none
Barbara Bush takes a photograph of former U.S. president George H.W. Bush and a fan during an MLB baseball game April 9, 2010.none
Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush kisses his wife, Barbara, after both were shown on the stadium kiss cam video board during a baseball game May 5, 2010, in Houston.none
Former President George H.W. Bush leaves his seat during Game 4 of baseball's World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Texas Rangers Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010.none
Former president George H.W. Bush, center, visits with Houston Texans cheerleaders before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013, in Houston.none
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, left, meets with former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush to receive their endorsements Thursday, March 29, 2012, in Houston.none
President George H.W. Bush, and his wife former first lady Barbara Bush, arrive for the premiere of HBO's new documentary on his life June 12, 2012.none
Former President George H.W. Bush is introduced during the first half of a college basketball game between Duke and NC State at Cameron Indoor Stadium Jan. 18, 2014.none
Former President George H. W. Bush applauds as he participated in a ceremony to present the 5,000th Daily Point of Light Award to Floyd Hammer and Kathy Hamilton July 15, 2013.none
Matt Schaub shakes hands with former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders Nov. 17, 2013.none
In this Sept. 21, 2013 photo, former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush, pose for photos after wedding of longtime friends in Kennebunkport, Maine.none
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are greeted by former President George H.W. Bush at George Bush Intercontinental Airport April 9, 2014.none
The current and former presidents and first ladies take part in the dedication of the George W. Bush presidential library April 25, 2013.none
Former President George H. W. Bush is awarded with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during Harvard commencement ceremonies May 29, 2014.none
Former President George H.W. Bush is celebrating his 90th birthday at his family's seaside retreat in Maine.none
Former United States president George H. W. Bush poses with Missouri cheerleaders before the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game against Navy Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009 in Houston.none
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