[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 21, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1135-E1137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      THE OFFICIAL FEDERAL HOLIDAY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 21, 2011

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to 
reestablish the legal public holiday for Washington's Birthday from the 
third Monday of February to the actual date of George Washington's 
birth on February 22.
  I have long admired President Washington and have found inspiration 
in public service from studying his life. Unfortunately I have found 
that students today have a dearth of knowledge about our nation's 
beginnings and

[[Page E1136]]

the man from Virginia who led the colonies to form the union known as 
the United States of America.
  Two-time Pulitzer Prize winning history author David McCullough 
recently observed, ``We're raising young people who are, by and large, 
historically illiterate.'' The 2010 National Assessment of Educational 
Progress, or Nation's Report Card, in U.S. history underscores that 
concern. Students in grades 4, 8, and 12 participated in the 
assessment. At each grade, students responded to questions designed to 
measure their knowledge of American history in the contexts of 
democracy, culture, technological and economic changes, and America's 
changing world role. The levels--Basic, Proficient and Advanced--
measure what students should know and be able to do at each grade 
assessed. At all grade levels, less than one-quarter of students 
performed at or above the Proficient level in 2010. Only 20 percent of 
fourth-graders, 17 percent of eighth-graders, and 12 percent of 
twelfth-graders performed at or above the Proficient level on the 2010 
U.S. history assessment.
  I believe Congress has unwittingly contributed to this lack of 
historical understanding by relegating Washington's Birthday to the 
third Monday of February to take advantage of a three-day weekend. We 
need to change the focus from celebrating sales at the mall to 
celebrating the significance of President Washington's birth to the 
birth of our nation.
  There is a reason the birthday of President George Washington is the 
only legal federal holiday observed for a president of the United 
States. He is called the ``father of our country'' because he is 
without compare in our nation's history. We need to reestablish 
Washington's Birthday on the actual date of his birth to honor his 
legacy and in doing so call upon schools across the nation to focus on 
Washington as the soldier, legislator, and president who shepherded our 
young nation through war, political turmoil, rebellion and expansion as 
no other single individual was capable of doing.
  Washington's Birthday has been celebrated since the final days of the 
Revolutionary War. French and American troops paraded through Newport, 
Rhode Island, in 1781 and celebrations were held in Richmond, Virginia, 
in 1782. Organized by French General Rochambeau and others who knew him 
personally, these celebrations drew special attention to the bravery, 
courage, leadership and perseverance of the Revolutionary War hero.
  From the beginning of our country, the importance of this day has 
been recognized. As President James Buchanan said in 1860, ``. . . when 
the birthday of Washington shall be forgotten, liberty will have 
perished from the earth.'' In response, President Rutherford B. Hayes 
signed legislation in 1879 that made Washington's Birthday a holiday 
for District federal workers. The holiday was extended to all federal 
workers in 1885.
  This legislation I introduce today is not without precedent. In 1975, 
Congress amended the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and President Gerald R. 
Ford signed legislation into law returning the annual observance of 
Veterans Day from the fourth Monday in November to its original date of 
November 11, beginning in 1978.
  The Uniform Holiday Bill signed in 1968 and effective in 1971 was 
intended to ensure three-day weekends for federal employees by 
celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, 
Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Originally called 
Armistice Day to mark the signing of an Armistice on the 11th hour, of 
the 11th day, of the 11th month in 1918 that ended World War I, the 
date of November 11 holds historic and patriotic significance as a day 
of thanks and remembrance for all veterans. The law change brought 
widespread public protest and 46 states refused to recognize any day 
other than November 11 to honor the sacrifice made first by World War I 
veterans and subsequently by all veterans. The restoration of the 
observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the 
historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the 
important purpose of Veterans Day as a celebration to honor America's 
veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to 
serve and sacrifice for the common good.
  Likewise, we need to restore the observance of Washington's Birthday 
to February 22 to preserve the date of his birth for history and to 
focus attention on his life of service and duty to his country. Even 
George Washington's home state of Virginia, where he was born and 
raised, which he served in elected office, where he accepted General 
Cornwallis' surrender, and where he is buried, celebrates Washington's 
Birthday in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. I believe 
all school children in every state should dedicate February 22 each 
year to learning about our greatest leader, foremost patriot, first 
president and the only six-star general in the nation's history.
  George Washington began his career in public service in the Virginia 
militia, eventually promoted to Colonel in command of the Virginia 
Regiment. He served as a voluntary aide-de-camp to British General 
Edward Braddock as part of the ill-fated Monongahela expedition before 
resigning his commission in 1759 and returning to Mount Vernon.
  His military career earned him a seat in the Virginia House of 
Burgesses representing Frederick County, Virginia. The 10th 
Congressional District, which I currently represent, includes the City 
of Winchester, where the building that housed his office still stands. 
In 1774, Washington was a natural selection to be one of Virginia's 
representatives at the First Continental Congress. During the Second 
Continental Congress in 1775, he was unanimously chosen to lead the 
Continental Army and subsequently led a team of young officers through 
eight years of war against the most powerful military in the world. 
Perhaps Washington's greatest accomplishment during the Revolutionary 
War was building a professional army and keeping it together during 
long stretches of inactivity.
  After the peace treaty was signed in Paris in 1783, Washington set 
perhaps one of the most important precedents in our history. When he 
resigned his commission in the Continental Army, Washington made it 
clear that the military was subordinate to the civil government. 
Washington had gone to great lengths to observe this subordination 
during the war years, and made sure that this act solidified its 
importance. Desiring simply to retire in peace to Mount Vernon, 
Washington voluntarily handed over the reins of power to the elected 
legislature.
  But despite his desire to stay a private citizen, he left Mount 
Vernon in 1787 to serve as the president of the Constitutional 
Convention because he felt that his country needed him. The power of 
his presence was perhaps the single most important factor in bridging 
the divide between the disparate interests of the newly created states. 
Through eight years of war and the voluntary relinquishment of power, 
the American people and his peers trusted Washington, noting that if he 
supported the new Constitution, it was worthy of adoption. This trust 
overcame the objections of many who continued to have problems with the 
document until passage of the Bill of Rights.
  After the Constitutional Convention adjourned, Washington again made 
plans to permanently leave public life. But as he closely monitored the 
ratification process at Mount Vernon between 1787 and 1788, Washington 
became resigned to the fact that he was the only person that could hold 
the new union together. Washington moved to New York to take the 
position of chief executive after he received word that he had been 
unanimously by the Electoral College. To this day, Washington is the 
only president to be elected unanimously, first in 1789 and again in 
1792.
  Perhaps most importantly, Washington set the precedent of presidents 
serving a maximum of two terms. This precedent was followed by the 
following 31 presidents, until Franklin Roosevelt won a third term in 
1940 and a fourth term in 1944. It is important to understand that 
historically, most victorious revolutionary generals grabbed as much 
power as possible and served as long as they possibly could. 
Washington, whose devotion to serving his country was only outdone by 
his love of his family, broke with this dubious tradition and began 219 
years of peaceful transitions of power.
  President Washington exemplifies the best that America and Americans 
have to offer the world; principled leadership, personal bravery, a 
sense of duty and public service, patriotism, recognition of our unique 
role in world history, and a reverence for his Creator. His enduring 
service deserves to be remembered on his actual birthday.
  This legislation is supported by George Washington's Mount Vernon 
Estate and its executive director James Rees. A copy of his letter 
appears below.
  Mr. Speaker, it is only right that we hold February 22 as a date of 
reverence to commemorate the unique person without whom the tide of 
American history may well have taken a different turn. I urge my 
colleagues to join in cosponsoring this legislation to forever honor 
President George Washington's Birthday.

                                               George Washington's


                                                 Mount Vernon,

                                  Mount Vernon, VA, June 21, 2011.
     Hon. Frank Wolf,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Wolf: I would like to thank you for 
     introducing legislation to restore the nation's official 
     observance of George Washington's Birthday to February 22, 
     the actual date of his birth 279 years ago. We are writing 
     today in strong and enthusiastic support of your efforts.
       Today many states, the media, advertisers and the general 
     public have abandoned recognition of Washington's Birthday 
     and replaced it with a commercial ``shopping holiday'' that 
     leaves American history and patriotism by the side of the 
     road. The holiday

[[Page E1137]]

     was far more meaningful when it revolved around George 
     Washington, and schools were able to focus on his sterling 
     example of character and leadership. We look forward to the 
     day, when once again, February 22 is marked by patriotic 
     festivities and lessons about the life of George Washington, 
     which can teach and inspire American leaders of today and 
     tomorrow.
       As our nation's foremost founding father, Washington is 
     relevant to each new generation because his prominent 
     character traits--undaunted courage, unabashed patriotism, 
     reasoned judgment, a profound sense of civic responsibility, 
     and a deep, selfless commitment to country--never go out of 
     style. Educating the children of America about the life and 
     leadership of George Washington is an important investment in 
     the future of our nation.
       Your efforts are particularly important because as noted 
     author and historian David McCullough has said many times, we 
     are ``raising a generation of historically illiterate 
     children.'' Surveys and focus groups over the years tell us 
     that most Americans--particularly young Americans--know the 
     face of Washington because they see it every day on their 
     dollars and quarters, but they don't know much more about 
     him.
       Why should we be concerned? Because George Washington was 
     the most important, the most effective, the most powerful 
     leader of our nation's founding era, and the shining example 
     of his life is needed today more than ever.
       To those like you who know and respect George Washington, 
     it is crystal clear that many today have drifted so far from 
     his standards of leadership that there is a real cause for 
     concern for the future of our nation. We believe that George 
     Washington is the best example of leadership and character 
     the nation has ever known; therefore, it is our duty, our 
     responsibility and our privilege to teach today's leaders and 
     young people about George Washington's leadership with the 
     hope that they will follow in his footsteps. Your legislation 
     will be a significant step in that direction.
       For example, a most compelling lesson for young people 
     today is that George Washington served in the three most 
     important leadership roles in the founding era. Quite 
     remarkably, the Father of our Country was selected for each 
     of these jobs unanimously, and, contrary to the common 
     practice of the day, he gave up power and walked away from 
     each of the positions despite strong support for him not to 
     do so.
       First, as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, he 
     surmounted incredible odds, never took a day off in eight 
     years of battle, and emerged victorious. But perhaps 
     Washington's greatest moment came when he halted an attempt 
     by his officers to overthrow the civilian government and make 
     him king. He then resigned from the military entirely and 
     returned to his life as a farmer at Mount Vernon.
       With this resignation, Washington actually established a 
     new definition of power. Before George Washington the road 
     map was for great leaders to gain as much power as possible 
     and keep it. But Washington truly believed in the concept of 
     liberty--where the power rests with the people. He taught the 
     world how to relinquish power--what an important lesson for 
     the leaders of today.
       Less than four years after his return to Mount Vernon, 
     Washington was drafted to be President of the Constitutional 
     Convention--because only he could bring the delegates 
     together. He was elected as our first President and after 
     serving two terms--he exited. He could have been elected 
     again and again but he peacefully transferred power 
     demonstrating that democracy really works.
       Celebration of George Washington's Birthday on February 22 
     will help restore the position of the Father of Our Country 
     as ``First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of 
     his Countrymen,'' as Light-Horse Harry Lee said so many years 
     ago. George Washington's sterling example of character and 
     leadership provides the opportunity to refresh and inspire 
     our country as we face formidable challenges both at home and 
     abroad.
           Sincerely,
                                                    James C. Rees,
     President.

                          ____________________