We have been, since the beginning of February, bombarded with commercials of actors dressed like Washington, Lincoln and other early American Presidents and music played with fifes and drums. This is a bit droll and boring by the time we get to this weekend as we should be celebrating Presidents' Day.
What is Presidents' Day? Well, prior to 1971, the United States has celebrated Washington's Birthday as a national holiday since 1879 by an Act of Congress. It then expanded in 1885 to include all Federal offices. This holiday was celebrated on Washington's actual birthday, February 22.
Over the years, there were several attempts to change this day to the third Monday in February and of course, all of them failed most recently in 1968. Senators and
- English: Mount Rushmore - from left to right : George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln Polski: Mount Rushmore i czterech prezydentów USA (od lewej do prawej): George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt i Abraham Lincoln (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Representatives from the Old South opposed it because it would have been designated to honor Abraham Lincoln as well.
Finally, in 1970 the Congress passed and President Nixon signed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved several holidays to Mondays beginning on January 1, 1971. This included this one holiday but kept the holiday designation as Washington's Birthday.
I have written two commentaries on this law, which I have provided below:
During the 80’s, advertisers decided to cash in on the term "Presidents' Day" with the aforementioned costumed actors. While we should honor all our Presidents because they have been freely elected by the people, this is not the legal name of the holiday.
Ironically, in October we will see "Christopher Columbus" sell cars, furniture, and all the other products, while "Abe and George" are selling cars and furniture now and will be until March. Here's an idea, why not dress up an actor as "Julius Caesar" to have an "Ides of March" sale or "Jesus" sell eggs and chocolate for Easter.
Or perhaps someday, in order to help us get over the post-Christmas doldrums, beginning on January 10 maybe "Martin Luther King" could hawk the wares of some manufacturers for the rest of January. How might that go over? Not well, I am sure. I know I would not like it.
It's time for us to remember why these holidays are celebrated. We celebrate all these holidays to remember our history, how we got here and where we want to go.
We honor Washington on several levels, General, Patriot and President. He is, for Americans on a secular level, the embodiment of why we rebelled against the British, why the Declaration and Constitution were written, why wounded military receive a Purple Heart with his profile engraved on it. It is not to sell cars or canned vegetables.
So today, please take some time from your busy schedules to remember George Washington, our first President. It is his birthday and no one else. We are here today because of his bravery as he led both the weak-minded politicians and his rag-tag army through the difficult travails of the day. Don't you think he deserves his own day of remembrance?
Happy 282nd Birthday George and….. Thank You.
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