Text of the Day of Mourning Proclamation and the Executive Order closing government offices for the day
Presidential Proclamation: National Day of Mourning for Gerald R. Ford
As a further mark of respect to the memory of Gerald R. Ford, the thirty-eighth President of the United States, NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, in honor and tribute to the memory of Gerald R. Ford, and as an expression of public sorrow, do appoint Tuesday, January 2, 2007, as a National Day of Mourning throughout the United States. 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 Ford. I invite the people of the world who share our grief to join us in this solemn observance.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty eighth day of December in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Executive Order: Providing for the Closing of Government Departments and Agencies on January 2, 2007
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. All executive departments, independent establishments, and other governmental agencies shall be closed on January 2, 2007, as a mark of respect for Gerald R. Ford, the thirty-eighth President of the United States. That day shall be considered as falling within the scope of Executive Order 11582 of February 11, 1971, and of 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) and other similar statutes insofar as they relate to the pay and leave of employees of the United States.
Sec. 2. The first sentence of section 1 of this order shall not apply to those offices and installations, or parts thereof, in the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, or other departments, independent establishments, and governmental agencies that the heads thereof determine should remain open for reasons of national security or defense or other essential public business.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 28, 2006.
January 1st, 2007 11:49
It is very haphazard to close the post office following a holiday closure and a wee-end closure. Three days in a row really has some first of the month bill payers in a bind. In all due respect for former president G. Ford, a day of mourning would be better observed after the mail runs on the 3rd of the month. Will the president help with the late charges on my house payment not being made timely due to my payroll check not arriving in the mail? It usually comes on the first, now I have to wait until the third. Just a little peeved!