President Donald Trump proclaimed Wednesday, Dec. 5, as a National Day of Mourning in remembrance of the 41st president of the United States, the late George H.W. Bush. Bush died Nov. 30, at his home in Houston, Texas. He was 94.

Bush, a Republican, was Commander in Chief from 1989 to 1993. He was the father of the 43rd president, George W. Bush. He had a long and colorful resume: Bush was a World War II veteran, a Congressman, an ambassador, director of the CIA, an RNC chairman, and served as vice president under President Ronald Reagan.

Residents can expect most offices and agencies of the federal government to be closed Wednesday, including the U.S. Postal Service, which will suspend regular mail deliveries, retail services and administrative office activity, and all Small Business Administration Business Recovery Centers in Georgia also will be closed. Many communities in Southwest Georgia were impacted by storms this past fall and are still recovering.

The Coastal Courier went to press early, on Monday, so that readers would receive their newspapers prior to Wednesday’s solemn observance.