Monday is President’s Day. You all will be enjoying an extra day off, possibly recovering from the Hallissey weekend. Often with our holidays, we take the day but have little knowledge of the history or the significance of the celebration.The federal holiday is actual called “Washington’s Birthday” and was first celebrated in 1880 in the District of Columbia. In 1885 in was spread to all federal offices to commemorate our first president. In 1971 the holiday was moved from Washington’s actual birthday to the third Monday in February as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. Ironically, with the decision to move to day’s recognition to the third Monday, we will never again celebrate Washington’s Birthday on his birthday of February 22.
In the 1970’s and 1980’s there have been proposals to rename the holiday President’s Day to include the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, February 12, as part of the recognition. Although never passed at the federal level, as many as a dozen states have revised the holiday to commemorate Abe Lincoln as well as the contributions of all our presidents.It is important to spend time to recognize those individuals who have sacrificed so much to serve our country as president. While many have done a mediocre job at best, many more have demonstrated leadership beyond compare, astounding courage, incredible foresight, and a loyalty to our nation and its value which should be respected and emulated.
Throughout your life, you have had three presidents, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barrack Obama. In addition, during school you have heard or learned about many more, whether that be George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, or Ronald Reagan.
Who is your favorite president and why? Which presidential story inspires you the most? As a nation should we do more to commemorate the office of the president and the men (and someday women) who have served?
Hannah- I have a couple favorites. Abraham Lincoln because he got rid of slavery, Franklin Roosevelt because he started the march of dimes, and Ronald Reagan because he tore down the Berlin Wall. All of these presidents did a lot more than what I listed (obviously) but those are the acts that inspired me the most. I think as a nation we do enough to commemorate the president(there are several memorials and cities named after Presidents),but not all of the office is well commemorated
ReplyDeleteSofia- I like Abraham Lincoln. He did so many great things I really admire what he did for our country. We do so much to commemorate our presidents they really changed our country and are being honored for it.
ReplyDeleteDanielle- My favorite president is probably Abraham Lincoln. he had a rough life and believe it or not he became president. He started with a really bad life and ended up as bveing really successful and remembered and actually made a difference in the U.S. We do alot to commemorate our presidents they have worked so hard to fix all the problems.
ReplyDeleteLuke- as Sofia said i really look up to Abraham Lincoln. He is a really great influence for people. He changed the world so greatly it is crazy! He changed the world in many ways. but i think the biggest one is what he did for slavery. He is a role model that i look up to. i think that he is the greatest president ever. But maybe i think that because i hear so much about him. But i think we should honor him.
ReplyDeleteRyan Z.- My favorite president was Ronald Reagan because while in office he got shiz done! In his meager 8 year term Ronald Reagan: tore down the Berlin wall, created an enormous amount of jobs, reduce government spending by a lot (which people don't seem to do these days), began a trend of entrepreneurship, raised the economy back up, started the war against drugs, and reduced inflation dramatically. The coolest thing about Reagan that current presidents could learn from (Obama) was that he actually did things! He didn't wait for the people to react (Obama) he just did stuff. He was a man of action. And what a lot of people don't realize (you too Obama) is that the 80's American economy really wasn't much different from today's economy. Which proves that it can be done, you can fix our giant problems you just have to do giant (sometimes unpopular) things. So America can be fixed, inflation can be eliminated, debt can be settled. We just need someone who is a man or maybe woman of action to be voted in in the 2012 election.
ReplyDeleteVOTE RYAN ZOELLNER 2036!
Ryan M-My favorite president is Ronald Reagan because he tor down the berlin wall and he got stuff done while he was in office. I really like the president story of when i think george washington cut down the apple or whatever tree. I think we should have a few more commemorations and we should have some more days of from school
ReplyDeletePhillip- I like James Monroe because we have the same last name!!! The story of Abe Lincoln inspires me the most. I think what we do to comemerate the presidents now is enough.
ReplyDeletejosu-so far my favorite president is Abraham Lincoln. He did a lot of great things. The most important thing that he did was getting rid of slavery. His story inspires me because he didn't get to go to school for his whole life, like most of the presidents do today, and he still accomplished a lot.
ReplyDeleteAngie- My parents always say that their favorite president was Ronald Reagan. I like him just because he was an actor with a monkey! I'm not sure what he did though. Abraham Lincoln probably had the most inspiring story. He fought hard for freedom from slavery. I honestly think we honor our servicemen/women well already. But we could do more I guess. I'm not sure how, but there should be some way.
ReplyDeleteMorgan- My favorite president is probably Abraham Lincoln because of his story. Like Danielle said he had a tough life but still made it to be president. He fought through freedom and slavery and much more. He did great things for our country. I think we commemorate the office of the president well we could give them a little more for what they have done because they have done good things.
ReplyDeleteAtticus- I think that teddy rosevelt because the teddy bear was named after him. I think the presidental story that inspires me the most is the story of abe linkon because of all the things he did for us as a countrey. I think there is enough sellibration for presidents day.
ReplyDeletegabby- i dont have a favorite president. i think that all of the president have done something good for the country, and probably something bad. but i think think that resident that story inspires me would be abraham lincoln, he did a lot of things for our country. most people would say that he gave freedom to the slaves but really i think he just didnt want his country to split apart while he was president. i think that he probably thought that not right i think everyone thought it was not right, but still did it for cheap work or money or something like that but i dont think that it was entirely lincoln who gave freedom to the slaves, but i think he did pay a big roll it the freedom whether intending to or not. but think that he was greeat president and story was incredible. i think that we should do more to commemorate ours presidnets more but im not sure how.
ReplyDeleteTravis-My favorite president is OBAMA!! JK I really like George W. Bush because he is from Texas and has a texas accent. I admire pres. Reagan because he encountered some tough things during his two terms and handled them smoothly. I think that we commemorate presidents enough already.
ReplyDeletekaed- my favorite president is like asking what sport do i like. My favorite president is George Washington.(heres a fast fact. George washington was not the first president ever he was the 7th president of the Congress, but he is the 1st president of the u.s.) the first president was Peyton Randolph he was elected in the 1774. New that by heart. Except the name of the president.
ReplyDeleteHalle- My favorite president was Abraham Lincoln for all that he did. For his act to prevent slavery and so much more that i cant write down. HE did so much for our country that people still remember today. I think he was one of the most influential president we've ever had. I think we do a great job of commemorating our presidents today
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