Dec. 4 (UPI) — The federal government and financial markets will close Wednesday, as the United States will observe a day of mourning for former President George H.W. Bush.
The United States Postal Service announced Monday that all Post Office locations will be closed, regular mail won’t be delivered and package delivery will be limited in observance of the day of mourning.
“President Donald J. Trump has declared December 5 as a national day of mourning, calling on Americans to remember the vast contributions of former President George H.W. Bush,” USPS said. “To honor the life and legacy of President Bush, the Postal Service will observe the national day of mourning.”
The federal government will also be closed, in addition to the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.
On Saturday, Trump said he would “absolutely consider” a bill that would delay the deadline for a government shutdown as negotiations would be on hold due to the day of mourning.
A state funeral for Bush is set to be held at the Washington National Cathedral at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
The last national day of mourning was declared by Bush’s son, former President George W. Bush, on Jan. 2, 2007, in observance of the funeral of former President Gerald Ford.
The younger Bush also closed federal agencies to mourn former President Ronald Reagan in 2004, and former President Bill Clinton declared a national day of mourning for former President Richard Nixon in 1994.
Bush’s body arrived to lie in state at the Capitol Rotunda on Monday, where it will remain to allow the public to pay respects through Wednesday.
