Henry Raymond
Fairfax News => Current News & Events => Topic started by: Henry on February 15, 2010, 08:49:18 AM
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According to Channel 3:
Many people have the day off today because it's President's Day! The third Monday of February is always set aside to honor the birthday of George Washington. While you're out making the most of some holiday sales or hitting the slopes, there are a few places you can't go.
All state and federal offices are closed for the day, along with the post office and banks. The stock market also has the day off.
George Washington's Birthday used to be February 22nd. When they came out with President's Day, I thought they combined Lincoln's Birthday (February 12th) and Washington's Birthday, but somehow I guess Old Abe lost his significance. We used to get those days off from school back in the day.
Just found the following information on Presidents's Day:
Presidents' Day dates back to our founding father and first President, George Washington. Washington was born on February 22, 1732. On his birthday in 1796, when Washington was in his last full year as president, the day became the holiday known as Washington's Birthday. However, Americans didn't observe this holiday until 1832, 100 years after his birth.
Abraham Lincoln was the next President to gain reverence similar to Washington. Born on February 12, 1809, Lincoln's birthday was first celebrated in 1865, the year after he was assassinated. Although his birthday was not honored as a federal holiday like Washington's, many states adopted it as a legal holiday.
In 1968, Congress passed legislation placing any federal holiday on a Monday, including Washington's birthday, to create a three-day weekend. In 1971, President Richard Nixon combined Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays into Presidents' Day. It would be celebrated on the third Monday in February, regardless of which day it fell on. Presidents' Day is now viewed as a holiday that pays tribute to both Washington and Lincoln, as well as all those who have served as president
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I remember learning in fourth grade about President's Day and that it basically replaced Washington's and Lincoln's Birthdays as a "holiday". I don't remember getting it off school, but then again I'm a few years younger then Henry :) Does anyone know if, in fact, "President's Day" is only to honor Washington? Mike? Lisa? Spec Ed?
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I tried doing a search to find out how many school days were required back when I was in grade school - 1939 - 1946, but couldn't find it. I know we did not have to go to school as many days as kids do now, nor did we have as much to learn - Everything we learned was before WWII. Been a few things that have happened since then.
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When I was in high school, I was talking with my Dad about Biology (Another class I didn't care for)... and how he learned the whole "animal, vegetable, mineral" thing. I remember thinking how funny that the natural world "changed" in such a short time. It makes me wonder if the laws of Physics have changed too...
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My understanding of Presidents Day is BFA rolls it over and takes it as one of its Winter Holiday days next week. We are off from the 20th-2nd. They call it a roll over holiday. Makes sense to me. I know my kids like the week off all together.