The Superior Express -

The 2023 February calendar marks the 20th as Presidents’ Day. For several years this federal holiday has caused some confusion. What ever happened to Lincoln and Washington’s birthdays that used to be marked on the February calendars? For my generation Feb. 12, was marked as the birthday of our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln’s birth. It was celebrated by many. Though it was never considered a federal holiday, many states observed it as a state holiday. Some states still observe it. According to history information, Lincoln’s birthday was observed as a paid state holiday in 1890, in 10 states. However by 1940, 24 states and the District of Columbia observed it. My generation grew up observing Lincoln’s Birthday. In school art class we drew and colored pictures of the famous president. Teachers used that day to teach Lincoln’s history to the students. There was even a birthday party held at school on Feb. 12.

The first president of the United States, President George Washington’s birthdayof Feb. 22, was first officially designated as a federal holiday by Congress in 1885. For many years, classrooms across the U.S. featured a portrait of President George Washington hanging on the wall. As young students seated in their classroom desk, looked up at that portrait, many wondered about his white hair that seemed to be a little longer, and tried to figure out why he was sitting in the middle of white clouds. Feb. 22 was celebrated by the students in the classrooms, learning and studying about our famous general during the Revolutionary War who helped establish the United States of America. Later he would agree to serve as the country’s first president.

Eventually the calendars did not list the two famous Presidents. Instead, the third Monday in February was marked as President’s Day. How did this change come about? In 1968, Congress passed a Uniform Monday Holiday bill. The bill was designed to move a number of federal holidays to Mondays. The bill was rejected a few times but the bill finally went into effect in 1971, and became the Monday Holiday Act. It was to include the celebration of Washington’s Birthday since it was a federal holiday that would be called Presidents’ Day. Some believe all the former presidents should be remembered on Presidents’ Day. Today there are just a handful of states that observe Lincoln’s Birthday as a state holiday. These include Illinois, California, Connecticut, Missouri and New York.

A few years ago, my husband and I visited Washington D.C. We were thrilled to see all the monuments. The Lincoln Memorial, built in honor of President Abraham Lincoln is a stand out as the many long and wide steps are climbed up into the memorial. Inside sits a 19 foot tall statue of Lincoln seated with his arms out stretched onto the throne like chair’s arms. The Lincoln Memorial construction began in 1914 and was completed in 1922. Made of Georgia white mable, the statue is surrounded by 36 Greek like columns that represented the states that were in the U.S. at the time of his death.

Across from the Lincoln Memorial, a perfect view of the Washington Memorial can be seen. Of course, this memorial is honoring President George Washington, who to most is known as the Father of this Country. This monument is considered to be the most prominent feature of the Washington, D.C. skyline. On July 4, 1848, the cornerstone was laid but the construction was not completed until years later because of hard financial times and war. It was dedicated on Feb. 21, 1885. This monument was proposed by Congress while Washington was still alive in 1783, and was marked into the drawings for the city.

All other memorial sites were proposed after the honoring person or persons had died. The Washington Memorial stands 555 feet and 5 1/8 inches tall and it is constructed with white marble blocks. The memorial weighs 81,120 tons. Inside there are 896 steps to the top. In more recent years, an elevator was added. On a clear day from the top, a person can see 30 to 40 miles. It is the tallest structure in Washington, D.C. and the tallest stone structure in the world. It is surrounded by 50 American Flags, representing the states of America.

So if you still celebrate Lincoln and Washington’s birthday as the dates remembered or join them together to celebrate on Presidents’ Day, Happy Birthday to Lincoln and Washington.