President declares day to mourn Ford

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP)-- President Bush has declared Tuesday as a National Day of Mourning for the late Gerald R. Ford, the 38th president of 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," he said in a proclamation he issued from his Texas ranch on Thursday. "I invite the people of the world who share our grief to join us in this solemn observance."
In a separate executive order, Bush ordered the closure Tuesday of federal departments and other governmental agencies not connected with the national security or defense of the nation or essential to public business, as a mark of respect for Ford.The Nasdaq Stock Market said Thursday it will close Tuesday as part of a national day of mourning.
to mark the funeral of President Gerald R. Ford. An announcement was expected shortly from the New York Stock Exchange.
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