Feb. 21 is Presidents’ Day. This holiday straddles the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. According to History.org, Presidents’ Day is “viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents, past and present.”

  The federal holiday was created in 1885 to celebrate George Washington’s birthday, and so was celebrated on Feb. 22. As the first president, and as a man beloved by many during his time, turning his birthday into a holiday was fitting to celebrate his legacy. 

  In 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act changed the date of Presidents’ Day to every third Monday of February, similar to patterns for holidays such as Thanksgiving and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This was done in order to create another three day weekend for workers. In addition, the recognition went past only Washington and served as a day to celebrate and remember all presidents. 

  Currently, Presidents’ Day is still a federal bank holiday, meaning banks are closed and federal workers get the day off. However, schools no longer take the holiday off, opting for MLK Day as the new pre-spring break holiday. The latter holiday is an important day, too, and covers a more recent person in U.S. history, so this change is understandable. However, there seems to be almost no recognition for Presidents’ Day anymore.

  While the holiday is certainly not as momentous as Christmas or the Fourth of July, Presidents’ Day still serves a purpose – to keep history alive and to honor those who have served as president in this country. Even if schools are not given the day off anymore, recognition for the meaning behind the holiday should still occur. Respect for the men who have served the highest office is important to respect, appreciate and remember their sacrifices for the nation.