By: Elizabeth Elliott
In a month in which we celebrate the love we find in each other, two historical figures are recognized, as well--George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Now commonly known as President's Day, the third Monday of February is set aside to honor these presidents. This year the holiday falls on February 15. Washington was born on February 22, 1732. His birthday was celebrated on that day until 1968 when Congress passed the Congressional Monday Holidays Act. This Act moved three holidays; Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day and Veterans Day, from their original celebrations. This also allowed federal workers to receive a holiday that day. There was another thought for designating a day for such celebration. According to a 1999 report by Stephen W. Stathis for the Congressional Research Service, "Observing these holidays on Mondays, it was felt, would substantially benefit the nation's spirituality and economic life." The economic life can be witnessed now by the countless Presidents' Day sales on anything from bed linens to vehicles. While Washington's Birthday was celebrated during his last term in office, Lincoln's Birthday, February 12, 1809, was not celebrated until 1865, which was the year after his assassination. Lincoln's Birthday was not honored as a federal holiday. Washington's Birthday was declared a federal holiday in 1879 by Congress. According to "By George, It's Washington's Birthday!" article by C.L. Arbelbide, "Signed into law January 31, 1879, by President Rutherford B. Hayes, the law was implemented in 1880 and applied only to District federal workers. In 1885 the holiday was extended to federal workers in 38 states." Exactly who was the first to call this day "President's Day" has long been in question. In 1971 an inaccurate newspaper account claimed that President Richard Nixon was the one to begin calling the third Monday in February President's Day. Arbelbide's article explains how the fictitious story came to be. "In the absence of fact checking, web writers had relied on a fictitious source, an Internet story whose origins were traced to an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette humor column authored by Michael Storey." Arbelbide further explained that what Nixon actually did was issue an executive order that announced the new legislation, and did not refer to President's Day in the executive order. President's Day has different events held throughout the United States. For instance, in Alexandria, Virginia, there is a Birthnight Ball at Gadsby's Tavern Museum, where Washington and other presidents attended performances and meetings. Here in Omaha, there is the Asics Presidents' Day Classic volleyball tournament at Qwest Center. Lincoln is not forgotten in celebration. There is a wreath laying ceremony and reading of the "Gettysburg Address" at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Here are some interesting facts about the presidents: Washington was the only president to have a state named after him. Lincoln was the first president to have a beard. Washington was the only president not to live at the White House. Lincoln was the tallest president at six-foot-four. Washington was the only president inaugurated in two cities, New York and Philadelphia.
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