National Day of Mourning ...

Beave

President Bush has declared a national day of mourning for Friday and, as is the custom, the federal government will close.

Our flag is to remain at half-staff through July 5. Is anyone else following suit? I've had many inquiries so far.

Don D

Our flag has appropriately been lowered.

sonny

Our flags have also been lowered, but I have heard of no other plans.

DeidreFR5

Our flags will be at half mast through the thirty days of mourning. We are getting tons of calls from employees who think because the federal government is closed, banks will be too. It is interesting that the Washington office of the Federal Reserve will be closed, but the regional offices will be open to service banks. We are planning a usual work day, but trying to maintain an respectful atmosphere. (i.e. some managers will not observe casual day, wear a patriotic pin, etc.)

ritaanz

Our flag has also been lowered. We are considering wearing black arm bands. Not sure yet.

deniseE

Our flag has been lowered....

The DC area is closed mainly to accomodate the influx of people and traffic....It's nice to call it a national day of mourning...but the mandate does not reach beyond the DC boundries!!!

Shutting down the nation for a day would be something!!!!

Crout

But impossible in our business, Denise.

National Guard

You do know that all federal employees will be off as well. whether or not they are in the DC area. There also will not be any mail on Friday.

Don D

Mississippi just elected Haley Barbour governor. If memory serves he was Republican National Chairman when Reagan was president. Wonder if Haley will do anything special.

There's an interesting article in the Clarion-Ledger newspaper (Jackson) about Greg Harkins, a local rocking chair craftsman. 20 years ago Greg's business was not doing well. Reagan visited the Neshoba County Fair politicking. Greg made Reagan a rocking chair and Reagan, with Nancy in his lap, was pictured in newspapers around the world sitting in the chair. As a result, Harkins' business busted loose. He's made chairs for every president from Ford forward.

Beave

How do you KNOW all this stuff??? :-?

Don D

Well, let's see. I live here so I know who we elected governor last November. I was alive 20 years ago, so I know he was Chairman of the Republican Party. I know that Reagan was president. I read the paper today, so I know about the Harkins guy up the road 20 miles who makes the chairs. Other than that, Beave, I guess I'm just exceptionally talented according to what my mother once told me. x:-)

Beave

Gotta love mom!!! xclap

Beave

Hey Don - HAPPY 6600th xclap

janetc

Are any of your offices having any type of observance? Such as 5 minutes of silence or . . .

Shadowfax

Nope. Flag down out of respect for the office. If ees want to do something more, they are free to do so on their own. For those who mourn him, there are those who don't give a rip, or worse, and it ultimately is an individual political issue.

Don D

I agree Shadowfax, however, the flag is lowered and offices are being shut down out of respect for the office, not the man.

Shadowfax

Sure Don, and that's exactly what I said. I also think it perfectly appropriate that he have the state funeral with all the trappings, even thouhgh I suspect it is more Nancy's ego than anything else. I was surprised to lean that only a relatively few ( ink 9 or 10) former presidents have had state funerals. I did wonder how mourners (voters, at least some) felt about Kerry taking cuts in the line when some waited 5 hours. Couldn't he wait till Pres. Reagan got to Wash DC?

Don D

Nothing but a photo op for Kerry. Several talk radio programs yesterday played a multitude of Kerry's recorded remarks critical of Reagan, some very recently, comments about how Reagan had run an illegal war in Central America and bashed the hopes and dreams of America. Then those were followed by his comments of Monday, saying Reagan was a scholar and a statesman and a uniter and man of integrity. Lurch waffles again. I'm sure all those common folk who stood in that line for seven hours were impressed by him being escorted in with the cameras.

ritaanz

If I were in that line, I'd be glad to get rid of him. Don't want some crazy to try and shoot him when I'm standing behind him.

Shadowfax

...but..if he does that is he crazy?

Beave

He got much better publicity doing it the way he did, than waiting to do the D.C. thing. Wouldn't be suprised to see him do both though just for the additional exposure in the press.

Parabeagle

I understand that Kerry was in CA attending his daughter's graduation from college at the time, so I think it was a matter of timing more than anything else - although I think he should have had to wait just like real people did.

On a related matter: Is anyone as concerned as I am about the attractive terrorist target created by staging a state funeral? World leaders, dignitaries, etc. all in one place? :-S

Don D

I think a few people have picked up on your assessment, Beagle. That's why they're now calling DC the safest place on earth Friday. They must have read your mind. x;-)

Dasher

It is certainly not unusual for the nominee of the "opposing" party to receive special privileges in such a circumstance. Kerry should not be expected to wait in line, neither should any of the living former Presidents or visiting foreign dignitaries. I don't like this (re) polarization I sense in the country. Everybody will say nice things about people when they die -- even if we criticized them when they were living. I was no Reagan fan -- but he is a former President and just died. He deserves the respect of the country he served.

We are not closing the company, but our flag will be at half mast and employees needing to can take unscheduled leave. I also have something nice up on the HR bulletin board (causing one director to joke that he always knew I was a closet Republican). No way -- just want to model the behavior I expect when Clinton goes.