FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — On Monday, we will celebrate Presidents’ Day. This annual tradition gives us time to recognize, remember and honor the service of America’s Presidents.
By federal statute, Presidents’ Day is officially known as Washington’s Birthday as a tribute to our first president. His heroism in the American Revolution and his leadership in the formation of our Constitution were critical to the early development of our young nation. In honor of his numerous contributions, Washington’s Birthday was made a federal holiday in 1879.
In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in an effort to generate three day weekends for federal employees. This brought the celebration of Washington’s Birthday much closer to President Lincoln’s birthday on Feb. 12. Since that realignment, the nation has generally used the holiday to celebrate the contributions of all our presidents.
Our presidents also serve as Commanders in Chief of the military, and they swear the same solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States as our service members and Department of Defense civilians. On Presidents’ Day, let us all remember our shared commitment to the Constitution and to the American way of life.
Over the long weekend, enjoy time with your friends and loved ones. If you decide to travel, prepare for inclement weather and take precautions when outdoors, being observant of the symptoms and treatment for frostbite, hypothermia and other cold-weather injuries. Also remember to follow local, state and federal guidelines and laws — along with General Order No. 6 — to protect yourselves and our teammates from COVID-19.
We are incredibly proud of the phenomenal team here at Fort Leonard Wood! Have a great weekend!
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