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GEORGE WASHINGTON HAS THREE BIRTHDAYS?
BIRTHDAY # 1. Born February 11, 1732
George Washington was born on February 11, 1732 "on the family's estate on the south bank of the Potomac River near the mouth of Pope's Creek, Westmoreland County, Virginia."
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1. George Washington was born at home as were a number of United States Presidents. Who was the first U. S. President to be born in a hospital? Answer 1.
2. Who was the second U. S. President to be born in a hospital? Answer 2.
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IF YOU GREW UP WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON, by Ruth Belov Gross. Illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully. Scholastic, New York, 1993.
LINK TO:
George Washington's Birthplace National Monument at www.nps.gov/gewa/index.htm.
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BIRTHDAY # 2: February 22, 1753
Wait! Wasn't George born on February 11? Then how did his birth date become February 22?
"In September of 1752 England and the colonies adopted the New Style, or Gregorian calendar, to replace the Old Style, or Julian calendar." The New Style calendar added eleven days to everyone's birthdays. Although George's new birth date, in 1753, became February 22, he continued to celebrate his birthday on February 11.
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3. What would George Washington's age be
in 2006? [Hint - subtract 1732 from 2006.] Answer
3.
4. Name the three other United States Presidents whose birthdays occurred before 1753? Answer 4. READ ON!
A PICTURE BOOK OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, by David Alder. Illustrated by John & Alexandra Wallner. Holiday House, New York, 1989.
LINK TO:
For a history of "Old Style" and "New Style" Calendars link to Library of Virginia: www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/gene/va10_dates.htm
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BIRTHDAY # 3: First
federal holiday to honor an
American-born citizen, 1880
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In 1880, the federal workers in the District of Columbia’s
annual celebration of “Washington’s Birthday” on
February 22nd is made the first federal holiday to honor
an American-born citizen, Virginia native George Washington.
By 1885, Congress has expanded the law to include all
federal workers!
- Washington's Birthday was intended to
celebrate the citizenship and leadership of the Father
of our Country as well as honor and the sacrifices made
by citizens and soldiers who recognized the need and took
on the responsibilibty for change.
Washington's Birthday (Observed)
shifted to third Monday in February, 1971
- In
1971, “Washington's Birthday” shifts
to the third Monday in February. Congress had approved
the move with the passage of the Uniform Monday Holiday
Act of 1968. During its debate, the congressional judiciary
committee refuses to rename the holiday as ‘Presidents’ Day.
-
Shepherding the bill through the judiciary committee
and leading the floor debate was Rep. Robert McCory,
(R-IL). During the floor debate, a vote fails to retain
the February 22d holiday date mainly due to assurance
from Rep. McCory that the traditional February 22 date
would occasionally fall on the third Monday in February.
"Indeed his [Washington's] birthday
will be celebrated frequently on February 22, which
in many cases will be the third Monday in February.
It will also be celebrated on February 23, just as
it is at the present time when February 22 falls on
the Sunday preceding." Congressional Record
- House, May 9, 1968. p. 12586.
- That the fourth Monday would have allowed Washington’s
birth date to occasionally fall on that Monday brings
about a ‘never-you-mind’ response. After
all, voiced many, “Who could forget George Washington?”
Over time, the memory of
Washington dims
Washington's Birthday (Observed) or Presidents'
Day?
A
second federal holiday to honor a citizen is implemented
in 1986. Congress learns from the previous ‘wrong’ Monday error
and correctly selects the third Monday in January, a Monday
on which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birth date will
occasionally fall.
- In Georgia, home state
of Dr. King, the Governor retains right to determine when
holidays fall. The King holiday falls on the federal holiday
in January. George Washington’s birthday is recognized
the day after Christmas.
The
ebb and flow of the perpetual
calendar occasionally
brings the "third Monday in February" to
within a few days of February 12, birth date of President
Abraham Lincoln. When Lincoln's Birthday falls on the
Friday before the Monday federal holiday honoring Washington — it
makes not only a long weekend but suggests to the public
that the holiday is meant to honor both presidents.
There is no confusion in Illinois whose
citizens celebrate separate Lincoln and Washington holidays
with the third Monday in February dedicated to Washington.
(See link to Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.) http://www.alplm.org/visit/home.html
-
In Virginia the State holiday title
remains “George Washington Day.”
-
While a handful of states substitute ‘Presidents’ Day’ for “Washington’s
Birthday,” the meaning is not uniform. Massachusetts
celebrates “Washington’s Birthday” on
the third Monday in February while also having a ‘Presidents’ Day’ proclamation
in May to honor fellow New Englanders (John Adams,
John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge and John. F. Kennedy)
who served as president
Advertisers
note the discrepancy: By the end of the 1980s, furniture,
car and mattress companies begin to morph their separate
Lincoln and Washington Birthday sales into the advertising
soundbite ‘Presidents’ Day.’ To the
unsuspecting public this term seems to explain why the holiday
falls between two presidential birthdays. By 2004, ads have
altered the term to "Presidents' Month."
Internet myth:
Internet sites attribute the name change from "Washington's Birthday" to 'Presidents'
Day' to President Richard M. Nixon who is in office
when the federal "Uniform Monday Holiday Law" is implemented
in 1971. Sadly, Internet writers are quoting from a
fictitious humor column which appears in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
after the federal holiday in 2000. Columnist Michael
Storey, miffed at President Clinton for referring to "Washington's Birthday" as
'Presidents' Day' the week before, creates a fictitious
tale as told to him by his cat in which the cat blames
President Nixon. Those who do not read or heed the
column's "total fabrication" disclaimer pass the story along as fact.
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READ ON!
RCL's young readers' favorite
books about George Washington!
Young George Washington Book Award
LINK TO:
GEORGE WASHINGTON PARTY HOTSPOTS
 "Washington's
Birthday or Presidents' Day"
Activities
Exploring "Washington's Birthday"
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ANSWERS
Answer 1: The first United States President to be born in a hospital was Jimmy Carter. President Carter was born on October 1, 1924, at Wise Hospital (now Plains Convalescent Home) in Plains, Georgia. *
* THE COMPLETE BOOK OF U.S. PRESIDENTS, by William A. DeGregorio. Gramercy Books, New York, 2002.
Answer 2: The second U. S. President to be born in a hospital was Bill Clinton. President Clinton "was born August 19, 1946, at Julia Chester Hospital in Hope, the seat of Hempstead County, in southwestern Arkansas. The hospital subsequently was converted into an apartment building, which was destroyed by fire." *
* THE COMPLETE BOOK OF U. S. PRESIDENTS, by William A. DeGregorio. Gramercy Books, New York, 2002.
Answer
3: George Washington's 274th birthday is celebrated
in 2006.
Answer 4:
(1) John Adams, 2d President, born October 19, 1735 [October 30, New Style].
(2) Thomas Jefferson, 3d President, born April 2, 1743, [April 13, New Style].
(3) James Madison, 4th President, born March 5, 1751, [March 16 New Style]. * * THE COMPLETE BOOK OF U. S. PRESIDENTS, by William A. DeGregorio. Gramercy Books, New York, 2002.
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