President's Day Irony

Statue of President George Washington located under the rotunda of
Virginia's Capitol building.  This statue was sculpted by Jean-Antoine Houdon during
Washington's lifetime and was made from a "life mask."  It is considered one of the most
accurate representations of the President.  It was commissioned in the 1780s,
completed and presented to Virginia in the late 1790s. (click to enlarge)

 Today, in the United States, we celebrate the birth of two of our most important Presidents.  George Washington, born on February 22, 1732, was our very first President of the United States and commanded the army of the Colonies through the American Revolutionary War, resulting in freedom from the Mother Country, England.

The home of President Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois.  This is the house in which he lived when he
practiced law and before being elected President. (click to enlarge)

Abraham Lincoln was our 16th President, born on February 12, 1809, and led this country through its most self-destructive and tumultuous time, the American Civil War.  I believe that if the Union would have lost that war, we would not have the United States as we know it today, but now have two countries.  The northern one, which would have been a result of a merger with Canada and a southern one, after merger with Mexico, would have changed the history of the world forever.

Partial of Lincoln's statue in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. (click to enlarge)

Today, President's Day, is February 19th, neither birthday of the two men who we are celebrating.  We celebrate President's day on the Monday between the two birthdays of Lincoln and Washington for the convenience of all of us, so we can have a three day weekend and take time off work.

Lincoln's Tomb and bust in
Springfield, IL (click to enlarge)

Don't miss the irony that we are not really celebrating these two Presidents.  We are using their birthdays as a vehicle to celebrate and reward ourselves with an extra day off work, retail sales events, etc.  Sad, isn't it?

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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