Presidents' Day

Today is Presidents’ Day, and while it’s a welcome day off for many, we should remember why this day is so important, and cherish the legacy of two of our greatest presidents whom the day honors: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

They were very different men. Washington was a war hero who led our country through its birth, kept the American Army together through the darkest days of the revolution, and emerged as our first president. He was bold in action, but quiet and reserved when it came to public policy. Similarly, Abraham Lincoln led our nation through its second darkest hour. Unlike Washington however, Lincoln was never much of a military man, yet he was faced with the nightmare of the Civil War from the very moment his presidency began. But Lincoln possessed the gift of oratory, and a deep courage and conviction, which helped him face adversity. He persevered, found new strength, won the war, and freed the slaves.

George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were great leaders because they saw that true leadership is defined by service before self, country before compensation, people before power. They dedicated their lives to the service of others, suffered greatly for the sake of this country, and died worthy of the respect of the nation.

Enjoy this holiday, spend time with your family, but remember what has given you the freedom to do so. The freedoms and prosperity we enjoy today are owed in great part to such men.

In Honor of Presidents Day

As a proud American, I am humbled and thankful today as we celebrate Presidents Day in honor of two of our nation’s greatest leaders.

A federal holiday, Presidents Day was originally established to honor George Washington and later, Abraham Lincoln. Besides sharing February birthdays, Washington and Lincoln also shared unrivaled leadership abilities, patriotic vision and immeasurable accomplishments in the pursuit of life, liberty and justice for all.

Where would we be today without the unselfish patriotism of these great men? Washington and Lincoln undoubtedly laid the foundation and building blocks on which this nation was built. Their precedents are the rules by which we live, govern and prosper. Theirs are the constitutions by which we defend our freedoms, guard our borders and protect our allies near and far.

Our generation of Americans inherited a nation of prosperity and strength that is unrivaled around the globe. For that, we salute our leaders, thank our troops and appreciate the freedoms and liberties that Washington and Lincoln fought to establish and preserve. The question we must each ask of ourselves is “what kind of nation will we pass along to the next generation of Americans?”

Happy Presidents Day, America.

History Serves as Guide on Thanksgiving Day

As our state and nation pause to celebrate a day of thanks, we all remember the story we’ve been told of the first Thanksgiving. However, it was George Washington who made the first Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789, setting the stage for this annual holiday. Looking back to what our founding fathers were thankful for helps put all of our blessings into perspective.

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

                                                                                          G. Washington