Some of you may know these few things: you’re off from work (or school), the reason is “President’s Day” (because your calendar tells you so) and it has something to do with Washington and Lincoln…possibly some birthdays…and that’s the extent of your knowledge. Don’t feel bad…I’m with you on this one! History was absolutely not my favorite subject in school so I kind of tuned some of these things out. Being a little older now…I realize these are things we need to know, so I did a little research for both myself and our IFWT readers! After the jump, check out the history of this holiday…how it came into fruition, whose birthdays are which days and a little history on both influential Pres’s.
In 1971, a day between both Lincoln’s Birthday on February 12 and Washington’s Birthday on February 22 became a single holiday, Presidents Day — alternately spelled President’s Day or Presidents’ Day — to be observed on the third Monday in February, to honor all the past presidents of the United States. Both Washington’s and Lincoln’s pictures were typically displayed prominently in school rooms. School children in many states have felt cheated out of an extra day off of school ever since with the two Presidents’ birthdays being combined into one holiday. Is this a way of consolidating holidays for advertisers for “Presidents Day Sales?†Certainly some state and local governments observe it as Presidents Day. Nevertheless, Washington’s Birthday is still observed by U.S. Federal employees, though it rarely falls on Washington’s actual birthday. Lincoln’s Birthday is not a Federal holiday.
George Washington was known even during his lifetime as “the father of his country†though between him and Lincoln, Abraham looked more like the father and George’s long hair made him look more like the mother. Nevertheless, George was a natural leader, standing 6’4″ amongst troops that stood 5’9″. He appeared at the Continental Congress in uniform, the natural choice for military leader. He had experience in battle in the French and Indian War in America, fighting for the English King George III, but the American Revolutionary war saw him fighting for independence against the same King that he had earlier served. He stood bestride two periods of American history, the end of the Colonial Period and the beginning of the National Period. He served only two terms as President of the new United States of America, though many would have supported his rule for life. Napoleon of France was amazed that Washington would step down when he didn’t need to.
Abraham Lincoln is one of the most popular, best remembered, and most oft written about Presidents in American history. He too served during a time of bitter warfare, again with brother fighting brother and neighbor fighting neighbor, this time though during the American Civil War, or what became known in the South as the War Between the States. While this great conflagration had many economic and political causes, Lincoln’s name remains associated with the abolition of slavery. Lincoln, as Washington did, connected two periods of American history. In Lincoln’s case, he saw the end of the National Period and the very beginnings of the Modern Period which would follow the Civil War.
Two great wars, one for freedom of independent government, one for a different kind of freedom. More Americans died in that second war than all other wars Americans were ever involved in… because the dead were counted on both sides.
Two great Presidents. The first remembered for selfless deeds who served as first President when he might have been king. The other for his great words that began to heal a nation after the largest battle ever fought on American soil. As Lincoln remembered those who fought and died at the Battle of Gettysburg he concluded:
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from the earth.
Courtesy of Bill Petro
