George Washington's True Birthday: Reason To Honor The Father of Our Country

At the beginning of the week, Monday was celebrated by many Americans as “President’s Day.” However, it is a minor example of the major confusion existing within our nation and the desire of people to do whatever they want. In truth, Congress had designated the third Monday of the month of February to be a federal holiday to remember George Washington’s birthday.

At this point, contemporary calendars will designate either holiday. Yet, most calendars depict this third Monday as “President’s Day.” To make it more confusing, other calendars refer to this day as “Presidents’ Day” (Note the apostrophes). The punctuation is simply a reflection of whether the holiday is a celebration of more than one president or all of the presidents together (somewhat like a “one size fits all” type of holiday.

It represents a misunderstanding of the original purpose of the day. However, celebrating all of the presidents in one big birthday extravaganza was not the intent behind the national holiday, and it was never given that name by the Congress which created the holiday. Originally, the day was established by Congress to honor the “Father of the Country,” George Washington. It was made official in a time, different from today, when men in Congress were reluctant to single any one individual out to celebrate their birthday. They did it for George Washington.

It is essentially so, since not all presidents are created equal. However, the day is considered Presidents’ Day and is a simple way of watering down respect for the truly great individual who epitomizes the character that had stood out in the birth of our nation. Some presidents were just politicians: perhaps just political hacks, or puppets performing the role their Party had set up for them. There are many that fit this description, especially the one residing in the White House presently. But, George Washington does stand out as truly great among all of these politicians.

Nevertheless, President’s Day was a fabrication of the business realm in cooperation with state and local governments to make a “President’s Day” holiday--a simple example of the concept of “federalism” in action. But, that may only work for creating holidays and not for the security of our national borders. It was a time definitely different from today. Essentially, Presidents’ Day evolved, or ‘devolved,’ into a one-size fits all celebration. Long ago, businesses took it upon themselves to celebrate such a holiday to increase sales in economic downturns, or to bolster sales in “celebration campaigns.”

States took it upon themselves to celebrate certain presidents to link the Party in power to former greatness, or to raise political awareness and promote candidates and donations for Party campaign coffers. It was a deviation from the original purpose of gratefully celebrating the birthday of a president who did not believe in the political parties as a healthy future for America. And look at us now…

Since it is an election year, it may be good to reflect on a leader who willingly sacrificed so much to help give birth to a nation where freedom could grow. Such reflection may also serve as a way to measure those who claim to be leaders today. Since today is truly George Washington’s birthday, not any other presidents, not a few presidents, not all presidents, but one president: the Father of our Country, it is not too much to wish George Washington a “Happy Birthday,” despite the current confusion, as well as corruption of current presidents.

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Unfortunately, the nation has changed radically since the days of Washington and those of the founding generation. As Americans have lost touch with their heritage, they have also allowed a most dangerous theft of their inheritance as citizens of the Land of the Free. Today, citizens are unsure of their sovereignty, unschooled in the ways of civics, and unclear about those sacred rights that were secured through the sacrifice of blood in pursuit of the Land of the Free.

One simply needs to consider that as George Washington was appointed by Congress to be the Commander of an army yet to be organized, they had no country they were fighting for. They fought for the Land of Freedom yet to be established. Such was their patriotism– --not loyalty to flag or government establishment, but to Freedom itself.

George Washington was central to that fight for Freedom as he was totally dedicated to the foundation of Freedom that he helped to forge from a tyrannical government that also had little regard for the citizens of his day. His story has been told by many authors focusing on many aspects of the man or his mission to help conceive and give birth to the Land of Liberty. Sadly, it is possible that more than one generation of Americans have not been taught more honestly or comprehensively about George Washington, and do not know this founding father as the Father of America. It is best to study his words to know him and what he believed in and what he was willing to sacrifice his life for.

Washington was the embodiment of the sentiment expressed by Partick Henry as he boldly stated: “Give me Liberty or give me death!” This great leader inspired it in his men, as it is in our history that one of Washington’s spies, young Nathan Hale expressed in another way as he was hung by the British: “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.” His love for the nation that was yet to be born is even more astounding as we look sincerely at his life today. Washington was totally willing to sacrifice his life for the sake of the Land of the Free.

And look around now…

In light of this, we who love freedom, can do more that just wish George Washington a “Happy Birthday.” Despite the confusion and corruption, we are in an election year, and it would also be good to reflect on a genuine leader who was so willing to sacrifice so much to help give birth to a land where freedom could grow.

Serious reflection today may serve as a way of measuring those included in the lineup who seek the position of POTUS, or those who claim to be real leaders. It is fitting that American citizens review again the reasons we have enjoyed freedom. Much of it is because of those patriots who were willing to fight to obtain it, or to defend it.

This generation, as Ronald Reagan warned, may be the first to have so much and yet do so little to preserve the freedoms passed on to us by the ones who held a great deal more respect for Freedom than many do today. Washington’s legacy demands that we elect those who express love for this Land of the Free and are brave enough to risk their lives to preserve it.

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