Why America Celebrates Presidents’ Day

By Pat KRAMER Presidents’ Day is a state and federal holiday to honor the birthday of our nation’s founder George Washington. This year it is celebrated on Monday, Feb. 20. The holiday goes way back to 1885 and is still referred to as “Washington’s birthday.” Although his birthday was actually Feb. 22, it is always celebrated on the third Monday of February after the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed in 1971 to allow for three-day weekends for the nation’s workers. While many people think of Presidents’ Day as a commercial holiday, deluged with commercial advertising to create more commerce, it’s important to remember the origins of the holiday. George Washington was one of the most important figures in the founding of America and Presidents’ Day is a way to pay homage to his life and acknowledge where the country is today because of the role he played. Born in 1732, George Washington served as the chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, which lasted from 1775 to 1783. In that role, he was victorious in establishing the colonial forces as the victors over the well-trained British Army. Prior to that role, he served in the French and Indian War (1754-1763). In 1787, he was elected president of the convention that wrote the U.S. Constitution, and two years later, became the first president of the United States, serving two terms (1789 – 1797). He died at the age of 67 at his Virginia plantation, Mt. Vernon, three years after ending his second term. His legacy included his attributes of strength, integrity and national purpose. Some interesting facts about George Washington: His only trip outside the borders of America was in 1751 when he accompanied his half-brother, Lawrence, to Barbados. Although his brother’s tuberculosis improved from the warm climate, George contracted small pox that permanently scarred his face. This is apparent in portraits of Washington that are seen today. One of Washington’s first roles in the military was taking on the role of Commander of the Virginia militia in 1752, even though he had no previous military experience. He rapidly gained experience by leading troops in the French and Indian War and eventually was put in charge of all of Virginia’s militia forces. In 1759, he was elected to Virginia’s House of Burgesses, serving until 1774. Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis, who was a widow at the time with two children. The couple never had any children of their own. The war against the British lasted for eight years but there were few military wins for the Americans during that time. Washington’s troops were poorly trained and had scant supplies – often lacking food, ammunition and, it is said, shoes during the winter. Washington’s ability to motivate them led to the ultimate victory in the Revolutionary War when, with the aid of the French, the Continental Forces captured the British troops fighting under British General Cornwallis in Yorktown, Virginia, ending the war for independence and making General Washington a national hero. George Washington was inaugurated as President at the age of 57 on April 30, 1789 in New York City and lived in both New York and Philadelphia during his presidency as the White House was not yet built in Washington, D.C. In his farewell address, Washington urged the new nation to maintain the highest standards domestically, and to keep involvement with foreign powers to a minimum. That address is still read each February in the U.S. Senate to commemorate Washington’s birthday. Today, his face is seen on the dollar bill and the quarter, more than 200 years after his death. At the time of his death in 1799, George Washington owned 300 slaves. However, during his years in office, he became opposed to slavery and – long before President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – willed that his slaves be freed at the time of his wife’s passing.