By Cara Beth Smith
On Presidents’ Day, Americans celebrate all presidents of the United States – past and present. Each year, the holiday is held on the third Monday in February, the second month of the calendar year.
The holiday was originally established in the year 1885 to honor President George Washington, the first president of the United States. In 1971, thanks to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, the patriotic holiday was officially moved to be recognized on the third Monday in February. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act was an attempt to offer more three-day weekends to America’s labor force.
In 1800, following the death of President George Washington in 1799, February 22 became a day of remembrance for the late president, honoring his life on his birthday. However, at that time it was not officially federally observed. In the late 1870s, it was established as a national holiday, and signed into law by President Rutherford B. Hayes.
According to history.com, “At the time, Washington’s Birthday joined four other nationally recognized federal bank holidays—Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving—and was the first to celebrate the life of an individual American. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, signed into law in 1983, was the second.”
Since today is a national holiday, most retail stores and restaurants remain open, while many government offices will not be open for business. Presidents Day is a bank holiday in the Federal Reserve system, so most banks will be closed. Likewise, the US Postal Service will be closed, so no mail deliveries will be made via USPS. However, FedEx and UPS will operate as usual.
While many county-level government offices are closed on Presidents’ Day, offices in Bladen County remain open. All Bladen County Public Schools are also operating on a normal schedule today.
Interesting Presidential Facts!
• Three of America’s presidents have passed away on the Fourth of July: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe.
• William Henry Harrison served the shortest term, only remaining President for 32 days.
• Eight Presidents have passed away while serving. According to foxnews.com, “Four former presidents, William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Warren G. Harding and Franklin D. Roosevelt died from natural causes; the other four were killed by assassination, according to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.”
• The only President in US history to serve more than two terms is Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
• From America’s 50 states, 21 of them have produced US presidents.
• John F. Kennedy is the United States’ youngest leader.
• Ronald Reagan, an actor turned U.S. president, was in 81 movies, according to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, before assuming the most important role in his career.
• Jimmy Carter, 98, is the oldest former president that is still living.
• Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt were fifth cousins.
• Throughout the history of America, there have been 46 presidencies including current President Joe Biden, who was elected in 2020.
Happy Presidents’ Day!
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