An American holiday once celebrated by many is sadly being shunned by millions in light of the recent presidency of Donald J. Trump. Presidents' Day is a holiday which reflects the history of our Presidents, honoring them for their accomplishments while in office. Let's understand the history of Presidents' Day and why it is important to our country.
George Washington, America's first president, was born on February 22, 1732. During his tenure, he led the United States victory in the American Revolutionary War, Established the United States Navy and proposed many forms of government that are still being used today.
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| His leadership and accomplishments during his presidency made him a beloved one, so much that presidents day was established in 1885 to honor him. His legacy lived on for decades, even in the Era of the Great Depression when Americans needed a prominent figure to look to for inspiration. |
During the time up until 1971, this holiday was celebrated with an understanding that it was for George Washington specifically. But due to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act (1971) and the fact that other presidents' birthdays occurred around the same time, it was changed to take place on the 3rd Monday of February annually.
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| Presidents' Day, Today... |
During this period, Congress proposed to move the holiday to be held on a Monday to fulfill a 3 day weekend for workers and to avoid employee absenteeism. Also, retailers saw this as an opportunity to market their sales for a 3-day weekend special, which is often today still distracting us, especially young children, from the real meaning of Presidents' Day.
While not every United States president is favored, it is important to maintain a sense of dignity for all, because life as a President requires tremendous work that we will never have to endure ourselves. Instead, let's take the time to reflect on our country and our past presidents, to honor their accomplishments and to have faith in the work that still needs to be done. It can help us understand better how to appreciate our country that has a rich character of history that can never be diminished.
"Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all."- George Washington
