President Biden marks Jan. 9 as national day of mourning after Jimmy Carter's death

Source: USA Today

Published 8:10 a.m. ET Dec. 30, 2024 | Updated 8:15 a.m. ET Dec. 30, 2024


President Joe Biden announced that Thursday, Jan. 9 will be a national day of mourning in honor of former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday in his hometown of Plains, Georgia at the age of 100.

Biden also said that flags will be at displayed at half-staff at the White House and on all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels for a period of 30 days from the day of his death.

"I also direct that, for the same length of time, the representatives of the United States in foreign countries shall make similar arrangements for the display of the flag at half‑staff over their embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations," Biden said in a statement Sunday.

What is a national day of mourning?

Biden called on the American people to assemble on Jan. 9 "in their respective places of worship" to pay homage to Carter. "I invite the people of the world who share our grief to join us in this solemn observance," Biden said in a statement Sunday. On previous national days of mourning, like after the deaths of former Presidents George H. W. Bush in 2018 and Gerald Ford in 2006, federal offices and stock markets were closed in the U.S.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/12/30/national-day-of-mourning-jimmy-carter/77313898007/