Presidents Day, celebrating Washington and others

Many of you reading this newspaper today might be doing so a little later than usual, since you might not have to go to work.

Today is Presidents Day.

According to history.com, Presidents Day is celebrated on the third Monday every February, originally established in 1885 in recognition of George Washington, our country's first president.

Washington's actual birth date is Feb. 22, but the holiday became known as Presidents Day as part of the 1971 Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which placed several holidays on Mondays to allow for more three-day weekends for the nation's workers.

Feb. 12 is Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Several states, according to history.com, still have individual holidays honoring birthdays of Washington, Lincoln and other figures, but Presidents Day is popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents. Strictly speaking, the federal government still views the holiday as a celebration of the country's first president.

Regardless of political affiliation, this is a day to give thanks for our country's leaders -- and to pray for them, past and present.

Happy Presidents Day, everyone!