Today Is President’s Day: Happy Shopping!

Presidents' Day, originally known as Washington's Birthday, falls on the third Monday of February. This year Presidents' Day falls on February 20, 2012.  Until 1971, both February 12th and February 22nd were observed as federal public holidays to honor the birthdays of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.

In 1971, President Nixon proclaimed one single federal  public holiday- the Presidents' Day- to be observed on the 3rd Monday of February, honoring all past presidents of the United States of America.  Early in George Washington's life he became an experienced surveyor.  Following those years, he fought in the French and Indian war.  After the war, he returned to Mount Vernon in 1758,  and married Martha Dandridge in 1759, and became a planter.

That same year he became involved in politics when he was elected representative to the Virginia House of Burgesses. He was a representative until 1774 when he became a delegate to the Continental Congress.  In May of 1775 Washington was appointed Commander of the American army during the Revolution.   He was the first President governing the 13 states.

Abraham Lincoln was born into a poor family and had little formal schooling.  He basically taught himself to read and write and walked long distances to borrow books. He failed in early business and political ventures, yet became President in 1861 and guided the Union through the Civil War.  He shaped his own character and education as was evident in the simple language he used  in his speeches.  His famous Gettysburg Address was delivered in 1863.

Lincoln was assassinated on April 15, 1865 during a performance at Ford's Theatre in Washington just days after General Robert E. Lee and his army surrendered.

As a federal holiday,  post offices, banks and other federal buildings are closed today.