US Postal delivery, retail services suspended Dec. 5
Post Office to close in honor of late President George Bush
By Rick Kennedy, managing editor
The U.S. Postal service is suspending mail delivery this Wednesday, December 5, 2018 as part of the federal government’s observance of the national day of mourning in honor of former President George H.W. Bush, who died Nov. 30, according to a press release announced Monday afternoon through the Arkansas Press Association.
The official press announcement Monday afternoon says:
President Donald J. Trump has proclaimed Wednesday, Dec. 5, as a national day of mourning and has called on the American people to pay homage to the memory of former President George H.W. Bush that day.
Out of respect for President Bush, the nation’s 41st commander in chief, and to honor his vast contributions to the United States during his lifetime, and consistent with the presidential proclamation, the Postal Service will observe the national day of mourning.
The Postal Service will suspend regular mail delivery and retail service on Wednesday, Dec. 5. USPS will provide limited package delivery service that day to ensure that the postal network remains fluid and USPS does not experience any impacts to its package delivery operations that might negatively affect customers or business partners during the remainder of the busy holiday season.
All Postal Service facilities — including headquarters in Washington, DC, and area and district administrative offices — are included in the national day of mourning. Local managers will advise employees on staffing levels to maintain operations and prepare for the resumption of regular activities on Thursday, Dec. 6.
Pay and leave administration for the national day of observance for affected bargaining unit employees is governed by section 519.4 of the Employee and Labor Relations Manual and provisions of May 4, 2000, memorandums of agreement between the Postal Service and its unions.
Additionally, USPS facilities are required to fly the flag at half-staff through sunset Sunday, Dec. 30, to honor Bush, who died Nov. 30 at age 94.
