President's Day

Tomorrow is President's Day. It is a federal holiday meaning most banks and federal offices will be closed.

Most of the schools will also be closed.

There will be no mail delivery.

If you want to know more about what is closed and what is open for President's Day, just click here.

To find out more about the history of President's Day, just click here.

President's Day

President's Day is set aside to honor all of the presidents - both current and past! The third Monday in February is set aside as President's Day. It is an official federal holiday. And there will be many different events honoring this day.

Since it is considered a federal holiday non-essential federal government offices are closed. All federal employees are paid for the holiday; those who are required to work on the holiday receive wages for that day in addition to holiday pay. Private banks, stock and futures exchanges are generally closed on these days as well.

source
Wikipedia

President Day Links

• Presidents Day Sales (About 30 years ago a lot of stores closed on this day!)
  
• What I have found that is very interesting about the observance of this holiday is that different states have different official ways of observing this holiday. You can read more about it by clicking here
  
• Link to the official website of the White House's website for more information about President's Day
  

Fun Facts!

• In New Mexico, President's Day, at least as a state government paid holiday, is observed on the Friday following Thanksgiving
  
• This day is also used to honor war veterans
  
• Over time, as with many federal holidays, few Americans actually celebrate Presidents Day, and it is mainly known as a day off from work or school, although most non-governmental workers do not get the day off.
  
• Community celebrations often display a lengthy heritage. Historic Alexandria, Virginia, hosts a month-long tribute, including the longest running George Washington Birthday parade

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Here is a list of what is opened and closed on this day

What's open and closed today, the holiday honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:

• Most schools and government offices will be closed, but many businesses will be open. Many workers do not have the day off as a holiday.

• Most Metro buses will operate with a reduced weekday schedule, featuring more services than on weekends but somewhat less than normal weekdays, with some route or individual trip cancellations.

• State ferries will be on regular weekday schedules.

• Some basic services, such as garbage pickup, will be on regular schedules, and some transfer and recycling stations will be open.

• Most banks and credit unions will be closed.

• Post offices will be closed; no home delivery except for express mail.

• Public libraries and state-owned liquor stores will be closed.

Veterans Day!

This is the day that we celebrate all veterans - both living and deceased!

There are lots of Veterans' Day activities going on all over the United States today and you can find out more about this day by clicking here

Columbus Day - Some Thoughts / Opinions....

Why is it we celebrate Columbus Day??

They forced their way into native settlements, slaughtering everyone they found there, including small children, old men, pregnant women, and even women who had just given birth. They hacked them to pieces, slicing open their bellies with their swords as though they were so many sheep herded into a pen.
They even laid wagers on whether they could manage to slice a man in two at a stroke, or cut an individual's head from his body, or disembowel him with a single blow of their axes. They grabbed suckling infants by the feet and, ripping them from their mothers' breasts, dashed them headlong against the rocks. Others, laughing and joking all the while, threw them over their shoulders into a river, shouting: 'Wriggle, you little perisher.'

Ya' know, I was afraid someone would ask that question.

No doubt, there's no call for celebration in the Father's testimony of the shameful deeds that occurred during that chapter of human history, or in the years that followed on this continent. As a member of the Pagan community, reading them drives home the point of how important it is to respect and honor the preservation of all native cultures.

There's also the fact that Columbus wasn't the first to 'discover' the New World. Far from it.



But...I think most people celebrate the spirit of the holiday, which marks the first voyage across the Atlantic. At least that's how I look at it.

If anyone were to ask me, and I'm sure that won't happen, I'd suggest the holiday be revamped into a memorial day instead of a celebration...for the plight of our Native Americans and a truthful understanding of their 'history' and culture. - That's an excellent idea! I'd suppport it. Should we write to our congressmen? Seriously. - That's a good idea as I was serious.

Especially IF you have any congressmen in your state that care. Unfortunately there are none of those sorts here. But I would gladly write to others---if there are any of that nature left in Congress thesedays. I only know of one or perhaps 2 that might consider it and the gathering of support of their peers (for the little people) has been what they did well in the past...perhaps you are aware of others?

Why not try?

Flag Day

It was 1885 and Bernard Cigrand was only 19 years old. Yet, he was responsible for educating inquisitive and impressionable students. It was an awesome task for someone so young. On June 14, 1885, Cigrand wanted to teach a very important lesson by bringing attention to the flag. He placed a 10 inch 38 star flag in a bottle that sat on his desk and directed the waiting students to write essays on the flag’s meaning. It was the first noted observance of Flag Day. Cigrand’s gesture launched a groundswell of support for a day of national recognition for the Stars and Stripes. It took 31 years but he achieved his goal when President Woodrow Wilson issued a declaration calling for the country to officially observe June 14th as Flag Day.

This year as we celebrate Flag Day let us remember our troops who are fighting for the freedoms represented by the banner. Last month, I voted in favor of the GI Bill for the 21st Century that honors the sacrifice of our troops. The legislation provides service members an educational benefit that covers the entire cost of tuition, books, supplies and fees at any four year public college. Additionally, the bill grants to those who served in Iraq or Afghanistan for at least three years, a monthly stipend as they pursue their college degree.

President Bush opposes the measure, saying that it would create an exodus of military personnel by providing the educational benefit after only three years of service. Lawmakers disagree, saying it’s the least service members deserve given their enormous sacrifice.

As the country observes Flag Day 2008, we must remember our duty to the men and women serving under that flag – those who every day put their lives in harm’s way so that we may enjoy the freedoms we hold dear.

source
Chaka Fattah's Newsletter

Lincoln's Birthday

According to Wikipedia, Lincoln's birthday is a legal holiday in only some states. A lot of states recognize Lincoln's birthay as part of President's Day.

Although Lincoln's Birthday had never been designated as a federal holiday, it was observed as a state holiday in many parts of the country.

Here is a link to a site that has information about Abraham Lincoln and his life.

And here is a link to a site about the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, located in Springfield, Illinois

A Bit Of History!

On this date:

• In Ireland, the 8th of December has always been the day that busy farmers took off work to do their Christmas shopping. The towns would all be bustling with country people, who stood out by their dress and accents. Whole families descended on Cork City and it was the day that the rest of the townspeople would stay at home, and let the country folk get on with their business. Of course, it never did seem to happen that way because watching everything that was going on came to be a favorite pasttime!
  
  
  
  This whole tradition seemed to have been created because for the many that traveled the long miles into the town on that day, it really was their only chance to get the presents and make sure that Santa would visit their children on the 25th December.