MIKE CORDER
Associated Press
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch government has declared Wednesday a day of national mourning as the country prepares for the arrival of the first bodies of victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.
The country’s king and queen will be at an air base in Eindhoven to greet two military planes that are scheduled to arrive around 4 p.m. (1400 GMT) Wednesday carrying the first victims’ remains.
The government said Tuesday that church bells can be rung during the day and for the five minutes preceding the flights’ arrival. Dignitaries will then observe a minute’s silence and “everybody can join in.”
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
