In America, we take our holidays seriously: Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving and even foreign holidays such as Cinco de Mayo. When it comes to that Monday in January, most people know why we honor Martin Luther King Jr., but President’s Day is often ignored. 

This year especially, President’s Day won’t just be pushed aside, but will most likely be forgotten altogether since it falls the Monday of Mardi Gras break. 

President’s Day has roots going back to 1800, the year after George Washington passed. Washington’s birthday was unofficially observed until 1879 when President Rutherford B. Hayes signed it as an official holiday applying to only the District of Columbia until 1885 when it became recognized as an official federal bank holiday. 

It was not until the 1960s that the observance of Washington’s birthday started to shift towards being called “President’s Day.” By the early 2000s, roughly half of the 50 states of America deemed it President’s Day. 

Today, official calendars list Washington’s Birthday on the third Monday of February because the federal government holds onto the main piece of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed in 1968, officially taking effect in 1971.

I don’t care if you consider the third Monday President’s Day or Washington’s birthday; I believe it is still an important holiday that all Americans should ovserve.

Given that George Washington is considered “The Father of Our Country” by some, we need to remember he received this name for a reason. He led America when it was in a delicate state. He still found a way to balance it with law and order while maintaining an outlook to the people that we were no longer British. 

Though Thomas Jefferson was far from the most righteous of presidents, we must remember he had a part in the Louisiana Purchase and we would most likely not even be considered a state without his hand with this transaction.

Though Abraham Lincoln did not free all slaves through the Emancipation Proclamation, he opened the doors for the possibility. Lyndon B. Johnson eventually enforced the guarantee of the civil rights.

Harry Truman came in front of congress proposing federal offices devoted to issues such as voting rights and fair employment practices while Thomas Jefferson can’t be forgotten for writing the Declaration of Independence. 

My point is that yes, we have had horrible presidents who made mistakes. That’s politics. 

But we have also had great presidents who deserve to be remembered for shaping the nation. 

I believe that we need to celebrate this on Feb. 22. And, I don’t mean by just having an extra shot or screaming, “It’s President’s Day” at a parade. I mean actually take the time to remember our past presidents. 

Maybe put out that American flag saved for July 4 or just post a “thank you” through social media.

If we are willing to wear green and celebrate what was originally intended to be a religious holiday for the Irish, I fear that many people forget why we are able to call ourselves Americans. 

For better or worse of presidents past, don’t make Washington’s birthday a forgotten holiday.