Politics & Government

No Mail Delivery In MD Wednesday For National Day Of Mourning

There will be no mail delivery Dec. 5 in Maryland for the National Day of Mourning for George H.W. Bush. See what else is closed.

Because Wednesday, Dec. 5, is a National Day of Mourning in honor of former President George H.W. Bush, a few government services will be closed. Bush died Nov. 30 at age 94; a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Washington National Cathedral for family and friends.

The Postal Service will observe the National Day of Mourning, and as a result, there will be no mail delivery. According to the Post Office, all locations will be closed. There will be limited package delivery. Mail delivery will resume Thursday.

Additionally, all federal offices are closed, the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will be closed. Some banks and courts could also be closed.

Find out what's happening in Annapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The U.S. House of Representatives has cancelled all votes for the week, and the Senate has postponed votes to after the funeral.

Gov. Larry Hogan ordered all state government agencies and offices closed on Wednesday in honor of Bush’s “lifetime of service.” Courts across Maryland will also be closed on Wednesday.

Find out what's happening in Annapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Also, Joint Base Andrews will be closed Dec. 5 except for mission-essential personnel. President Bush's casket was flown from Texas to the Maryland base, and will leave from JBA on Wednesday to final services and burial in Texas.

But not all organizations are closed, Maryland schools are still in session on Dec. 5. Baltimore city government offices and most of Baltimore County’s offices will remain open.

However, Juvenile Court in Anne Arundel County will be closed Dec. 5 for the National Day of Morning. The Juvenile Court typically follows the school calendar, however it will be closed while schools will still be open.

Bush was remembered by President Donald Trump as a "truly wonderful man" whose "accomplishments were great from beginning to end."

The day of mourning is reportedly a tradition — the U.S. stock markets also closed for a day to mark the 2007 death of President Gerald Ford, according to CBS News.

Former President George W. Bush will deliver a eulogy for his father at the Washington National Cathedral, according to multiple outlets.

CNN reports George H.W. Bush will also be eulogized by former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, presidential historian Jon Meacham, and U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson.

President Donald Trump, who is expected to attend, will not speak at the funeral, sources tell CNN. Other attendees include former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter.

Around 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Bush's body will be flown to St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston. He will later be buried in his family plot behind the Bush Library at Texas A&M alongside his wife, Barbara Bush, who died earlier this year. The plot is also home to their daughter, Robin, who died in 1953 at the age of 3.

Photo credit: David Allen/Patch

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