Today marks the day where we honor our past US Presidents though historically it was when we celebrated George Washington’s birthday (according to the Gregorian or new style calendar, President Washington’s birthday was February 22nd 1732, according to the Julian or old Anglican style calendar, his birthday was marked as February 11th, 1732) and then later it seemed like we were celebrating both Washington’s Birthday and then President Lincoln’s Birthday (February 12th) in the same month. Washington’s birthday was marked as a federal holiday and Lincoln’s as a public holiday (some state choosing not to honor his birthday as a state holiday).

In 1968, the US Congress, taking its cue perhaps from merchant advertising that had already begun using the term “President’s Day” to “celebrate a day of sales” decided to enact a single national holiday honoring our presidents. Regardless, today we mark this day to honor the many great leaders who served in the White House and helped shape our great nation. It may interest you to know that one of our presidents, William H. Taft, also served as Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court in addition to being president.

For me, I have been able to appreciate certain qualities of many of our past presidents regardless of their own brand of politics-for example, President Carter for his humanity and humility, President Reagan for his natural optimism and charisma and of course leaders like George Washington for his great and selfless service in helping create our new nation.

Happy President’s Day!