President George H.W. Bush speaks during a ceremony for U.S. military personnel in Sumter, SC, in March 1991. Image: U.S. Army

The Postal Service will suspend regular mail deliveries, retail services and administrative office activity Wednesday, Dec. 5, which President Donald J. Trump has proclaimed as a national day of mourning to honor former President George H.W. Bush.

In a statement announcing the suspension, USPS praised Bush for his “vast contributions to our country during his lifetime.”

The Postal Service will provide limited package delivery service Dec. 5 to ensure that its network remains fluid and the organization 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 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 President Bush, who died Nov. 30 at age 94.