Former First Lady Barbara Bush in Tyler for Literacy Council

TYLER –Former First Lady Barbara Bush, who was the guest speaker at Tuesday’s Literacy Council of Tyler luncheon at Harvey Convention Center, encouraged the community to help educate others by volunteering.

Mrs. Bush who started The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy more than 20 years ago told the crowd, “Every person who learns to read is a great victory.”

She went on to say millions of adults still do not have the literacy skills needed to lead productive lives. Mrs. Bush said The Literacy Council of Tyler provides those programs so people can learn the basic skills needed for reading and writing.

At the conclusion of her speech, Mrs. Bush was presented with a special gift, a library named in her honor. The Bush Library will be located at the Tyler Salvation Army’s Center of Hope. The former First Lady was also presented with a proclamation by Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass, who named today “Barbara Bush Day” in Tyler.

Last year the Literacy Council of Tyler served 2,400 people by providing free adult literacy instruction.

For more information on the Literacy Council of Tyler, visit its website.