George Washington was known as the “Father of His Country” and is the inspiration behind the holiday we all know as Presidents Day.
Washington was a Revolutionary War Leader, commanding the Continental Army and winning critical battles. Though his army was poorly equipped, his leadership skills and strategic thinking resulted in victories in Trenton, Princeton, and the last major battle of the Revolutionary War, the siege of Yorktown.
Because of these important victories, Great Britain lost control of the nation, and the United Sates of America was able to become an independent nation.
In 1789, six years after the war ended, there was sixty-nine unanimous electoral votes for George Washington, making him the first president of the United States.
During his presidency he was able to make the first Presidential Cabinet, appoint the first supreme court, create the native American policy, allowed religious freedom, ratified to Bill of Rights, assisted in the establishing the nation’s capital, and much more, until retiring in 1797.
Having had such a vital role in the forming of this nation, his birthday was celebrated by many.
Presidents Day, though it wasn’t official, was observed in 1800, only a year after Washington passed away.
In 1862, Abraham Lincoln declared the 22nd of February as a day of celebration in honor of George Washington.
It wasn’t until the late 1970s that Washington’s Birthday became a federal holiday in the District of Columbia. This holiday expanded into the rest of the country in 1885.
Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill in 1968, putting many federal holidays on a Monday. It was while debating on this bill, that the idea of changing Washington’s Birthday celebration to Presidents Day, which would instead take place on the third Monday of February.
With this holiday name change, it would no longer just be about George Washington.
It would also honor Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president, who was born on the 12th of February and preserved the Union, vindicated democracy, and abolished slavery in America.
Lincoln’s birthday had been celebrated as a state holiday in several states and many people supported theidea of giving Washington and Lincoln, the most famous presidents, a day about them both.
Despite the idea being rejected, this day became commonly known as Presidents Day.
This federal holiday is often celebrated by participating in or attending parades, visiting a national monument or park, store sales, or reading George Washington’s farewell address.
Out of the 45 different presidents, my favorite has always been Abraham Lincoln, the freedom fighter. He accomplished great things during his time of presidency that our nation still upholds.
“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” - John F. Kennedy