After Washington's strike across the Delaware and the dramatic victories 
over the Hessian at Trenton and the British at Princeton, the soldiers 
of the Continental Army set aside February 22 in his honor. That day 
continued to be observed through Washington's presidency and even beyond 
as a semi-official holiday. In 1885, President Chester Arthur signed a 
bill making Washington's Birthday a federal holiday. In 1968, Congress 
rejected an effort to name the holiday as President's Day, but in 1971, 
it moved the celebration of Washington's birthday to the third Monday in 
February. The public assumed that this was to combine the birthdays of 
Washington and Abraham Lincoln, but there has never been a holiday for 
Lincoln.  Although not designated by Congress, some states have 
officially recognized this as "President's Day," and this has crept into 
public acceptance. Even Virginia, the state of Washington's birth, has 
backed down, providing in Va Code section 2.2-3300 that: The third 
Monday in February - George Washington Day to honor George Washington 
(1732-1799), the first President of the United States.   Due to an 
effort create long weekends for federal workers and to coordinate sales 
at the mall, there is no longer a special day for Americans to honor the 
founder of their country.

-- 
Richard Dixon
Editor Jefferson Notes
571-748-7660


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