National Day of Mourning for President George HW Bush: What you need to know
On Saturday, President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation that Wednesday, Dec. 5 would be a National Day of Mourning to remember former President George H.W. Bush after he died at age 94.
What is a National Day of Mourning?
A National Day of Mourning is an official day recognized by the government for the country to come together and participate in memorial activities. The designation is usually only given in the U.S. after the death of a president.
What is closed on the National Day of Mourning?
Federal offices are closed on Wednesday, as are the major U.S. stock markets, The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. Most government employees will have the day off, some banks may close, and the U.S. Postal Service will not make regular deliveries on Wednesday.
When is President George H.W. Bush's funeral?
Events are being held throughout the week to honor the former president. The state funeral is on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
The second and last funeral will take place on Thursday in Houston.
Here is the preliminary order of service for the state funeral at Washington National Cathedral:
Organ Prelude, George Fergus (Organist, Washington National Cathedral)
Musical Prelude
"Nocturne," The United States Marine Orchestra
"Lay me Low," The Armed Forces Chorus
"Our Town," The United States Marine Orchestra
"My Song in the Night," The Armed Forces Chorus
"Hymn to the Fallen" & "America the Beautiful," The Armed Forces
Chorus and The United States Marine Orchestra
Musical Honors
"Four Ruffles and Flourishes," "Hail to the Chief," and "For All the
Saints," The United States Coast Guard Band
The Reception of the Body, The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding
Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church and The Right Reverend
Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop, the Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Introit
"My house shall be called a house of prayer," The Cathedral Choir
The Anthems in Procession, The Reverend Dr. Russell Levenson, Jr., Rector,
St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Houston, Texas
Hymn
"Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven"
The Collect for Burial, The Very Reverend Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean,
Washington National Cathedral
The First Reading
Isaiah 60:1-5, 18-20, Mrs. Lauren Bush Lauren & Ms. Ashley Walker Bush
Tribute, Mr. Jon Meacham, Presidential Historian and Author
Anthem
"The King of love my shepherd is," The Cathedral Choir
The Second Reading
Revelation 21:1-4, 23-25, Mrs. Jenna Bush Hager
Tribute, The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Eighteenth Prime Minister of
Canada
Tribute, The Honorable Alan K. Simpson, former United States Senator, Wyoming
Anthem
"Last full measure of devotion," Ronan Tynan (soloist) & The Armed Forces
Chorus and the United States Marine Orchestra
Tribute, The Honorable George W. Bush, Forty-Third President of the United States
Anthem
"O God, our help in ages past," The Armed Forces Chorus with the United
States Marine Orchestra
The Holy Gospel, Matthew 5:14-16, The Very Reverend Randolph
Marshall Hollerith, Dean, Washington National Cathedral
Homily, The Reverend Dr. Russell Levenson, Jr., Rector, St. Martin's
Episcopal Church, Houston, Texas
Musical Reflection, "Friends", Michael W. Smith (soloist)
The Apostles' Creed
The Lord's Prayer, Ronan Tynan (soloist)
The Prayers, The Reverend Canon Jan Naylor Cope, Provost,
Washington National Cathedral
Anthem
"Eternal Father, strong to save," The Armed Forces Chorus with
The United States Marine Orchestra
The Commendation, The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde,
Bishop, the Episcopal Diocese of Washington; The Very
Reverend Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean, Washington
National Cathedral; The Reverend Dr. Russell Levenson, Jr.,
Rector, Saint Martin's Episcopal Church, Houston, Texas
The Blessing, The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding
Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church
The Dismissal, The Very Reverend Randolph Marshall Hollerith,
Dean, Washington National Cathedral
Hymn
"For all the saints"
Musical Honors, The United States Coast Guard Band
"Four Ruffles and Flourishes"
"Hail to the Chief"
"Holy God, we praise thy Name"
Organ Postlude, George Fergus, Organist, Washington National
Cathedral
Final," from "Symphonie I, Op. 14"
When was the last time there was a National Day of Mourning for a U.S. president?
The last time there was a National Day of Mourning for a U.S. president was Jan. 2, 2007. Gerald Ford, who was the most recent president to die, passed away on Dec. 26, 2006.
What else can be expected on the National Day of Mourning?
In his proclamation, President Trump said of the day, "I call on the American people to assemble on that day in their respective places of worship, there to pay homage to the memory of President George H.W. Bush. I invite the people of the world who share our grief to join us in this solemn observance."
Also in his proclamation, President Trump directed that flags be flown at half-staff for 30 days in honor of Bush.
RELATED: Full coverage of President George HW Bush's funeral and legacy
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
