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Mourners pay respects to Jimmy Carter at Capitol Rotunda
Mourners braved the frigid temperatures Wednesday to pay their last respects to former President Jimmy Carter in the nation’s capital.
A National Day of Mourning will take place on Thursday, Jan. 9 for former President Jimmy Carter's official state funeral at Washington National Cathedral.
President Joe Biden declared the National Day of Mourning shortly after Carter’s passing at the age of 100 in Plains, Georgia. In his proclamation, Biden described Carter as a "man of character, courage, and compassion, whose lifetime of service defined him as one of the most influential statesmen in our history."
In addition to ordering the American flag to be flown at half-staff at federal facilities, he also ordered the closure of the federal government and asked the American people to gather in their places of worship to remember the former president.
When a U.S. president dies, it's common practice for the day of their funeral to be treated like a federal holiday, with federal offices closed and all employees freed from work. Some federal departments and agencies may remain open "for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need."
What’s Closed on Jan. 9
- Federal Government: All executive departments and agencies, except those essential for national security, defense, or public need.
- Stock Markets: The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will close. Bond markets will operate with reduced hours, closing at 2 p.m. ET.
- U.S. Postal Service: Mail delivery and post offices will be suspended, with limited package delivery.
- Courts and Archives: The United States Supreme Court, federal courts, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives will close.
- Schools: Department of Defense Education Activity organizations and schools will not operate.
READ MORE: Will mail be delivered in DC on Thursday, Jan. 9?
What Remains Open
- Businesses and banks are not required to close, as the National Day of Mourning is not treated as a federal holiday.
Flags at Half-Staff
President Biden ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff for 30 days, starting from Carter’s date of death. This order applies to:
- The White House, public buildings, and grounds.
- Military posts, naval stations, and vessels of the federal government.
- U.S. embassies, consulates, and facilities abroad.
Historical Context of National Days of Mourning
The current traditions for a national Day of Mourning were formalized in 1969 after the death of Dwight D. Eisenhower, according to The American Presidency Project. President Richard Nixon declared the day of Eisenhower’s funeral a National Day of Mourning, closed all federal departments, ordered flags at half-staff for 30 days, and directed military honors.
The practice has evolved over time, with its earliest roots in 1826, when President John Quincy Adams issued an order to honor Thomas Jefferson’s death with half-staff flags, military mourning attire, and cannon salutes.
By the early 20th century, it became customary to lower governmental flags for 30 days following a president’s death.
RELATED: What happens during a presidential funeral and a look back at past funerals
Schedule of events on Jan. 9 for former President Carter
Morning Ceremonies in Washington, D.C.:
- 7 a.m.: Lying in State concludes.
- 9 a.m.: Departure ceremony at U.S. Capitol, followed by motorcade to Washington National Cathedral.
- 10 a.m.: National Funeral Service at Washington National Cathedral.
Afternoon Transfer to Georgia:
- 12:15 p.m.: Special Air Mission 39 departs Joint Base Andrews for Lawson Army Airfield, Georgia.
- 2 p.m.: Carter’s remains arrive in Georgia, transferred to a hearse with a ceremonial tribute.
Final Services in Plains, Georgia:
- 3:30 p.m.: Arrival ceremony at Maranatha Baptist Church, followed by a private funeral service.
- 4:45 p.m.: Motorcade travels through downtown Plains; the public is invited to line the route.
- 5:20 p.m.: Private interment at the Carter residence with a U.S. Navy missing man flyover.
What happened to Jimmy Carter?
In 2015, Carter announced shattering news about his health. He candidly spoke about his battle with liver and brain cancer.
"Now I feel it’s in the hands of God, who I worship, and I’ll be prepared for anything that comes," he said.
Extensive treatment followed and he was declared cancer-free in December 2015.
In 2019, Carter suffered several falls, one requiring hip replacement surgery. Another led to a fractured pelvis. In November of that year, he had to undergo surgery to relieve bleeding on his brain related to the falls.
But Carter remained active well into his 90s, continuing to lead Sunday School classes at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains and to help build Habitat for Humanity houses for those in need.
He had been receiving at-home hospice care for nearly two years at the time of his death.
The Carter Center confirmed his death, saying he died peacefully at his home in Plains, surrounded by his family. He was the longest-lived president in U.S. history.