According to www.archives.gov/legislative/features/washington , George Washington was born in Virginia on February 11th, 1731, the date being set in accordance to the Julian calendar which was used during that time. However, in 1752, the British decided to adopt the use of the Gregorian calendar, which changed Washington's birthday from February 11th, 1731 to February 22nd, 1732.
George Washington's birthday continued to be observed on February 22nd until 1968 when congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. It was made official in 1971 when President Richard M. Nixon issued an executive order to mandate it into law. This new law stipulated that George Washington's birthday, which was celebrated on February 22nd, and Abraham Lincoln's birthday, which was celebrated on February 12th, were to be celebrated on one day - the 3rd Monday in February, so that the country would have a 3 day weekend holiday.
I believe that by celebrating George Washington and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays together as it is being done today, creates the lack of individualism, which should be recognized with regard to both presidents and their outstanding contributions that they each have made towards the greatest country of the world - the United States of America. Furthermore, the bundling of the former president's birthdays into one floating holiday which is on the 3rd Monday in February just so we could have a 3 day weekend shows a complete lack of respect by our lawmakers for these 2 great men, and how much thet meant to our nation.
According to wolf.house.gov/press-releases/wolf-reintroduces , on February 13, 2013, Republican Representative Frank Wolf of Virginia had reintroduced legislation for George Washington's birthday to be celebrated on his actual birthday which is February 22nd instead of the 3rd Monday in February. Representative Wolf is dedicated to honoring Washingon because the early years of his political and military life were spent in Winchester, Virginia- an area that Wolf represents. From 1758-1765, George Washington served in the House of Burgesses in Frederick County. During the French and Indian War, Washington commanded the Virginia Regiment from his Winchester headquarters. Representative Frank Wolf's legislation to restore Washington's birthday celebration to the proper day is supported by George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate by non-taxpayer dollars.
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