Sunday, February 17, 2008

Presidents' Day

Happy Presidents' Day George and Abe!



Presidents' Day is celebrated in February to honor two of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. The holiday is celebrated in the United States on the third Monday in February.

Presidents Day, officially known as Washington's Birthday, is a federal holiday in the United States and is celebrated on the third Monday of February. Although it has become known as a great weekend for sales, especially on cars, there's a lot more to the holiday. Presidents Day is a good chance to learn more about American History, civic responsibility and even U.S. geography.


George Washington (February 22, 1732-December 14, 1799). was the first President of the United States, (1789–1797), after leading the Continental Army to victory over the Kingdom of Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). Washington was chosen to be the Commander-in-chief of the American revolutionary forces in 1775. Washington died in 1799, and in his funeral oration, Henry Lee said that of all Americans, he was "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." Washington has been consistently ranked by scholars as one of the greatest U.S. Presidents.


Opus Washington constant companion to the American General.

Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 -April 15, 1865) was the sixteenth President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1861 until his assassination. As an outspoken opponent of the expansion of slavery in the United States, Lincoln won the Republication Party nomination in 1860 and was elected president later that year. During his term, he helped preserve the United States by leading the defeat of the secessionist Confederate States of America in the American Civil War. He introduced measures that resulted in the abolition of slavery, issuing his Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and promoting the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. Lincoln has been rated by scholars among the top three U.S. Presidents, with the majority of those surveyed placing him first.


Honest Ros Lincoln the most loyal kitty in the Civil War.


The Four Greatest President at Mt.Katsmore
Photo by Opus & Roscoe

Mount Katsmore National Memorial, located near Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, is a monumental granite sculpture, with 60-foot of the heads of former United States presidential pets, Roscoe Lincoln (1809-18565), Momo Jefferson (1743-1826), Opus Washington (1732-1799), and Sassy Roosevelt (1858-1919) are considered to have been among the greatest of confidents to their President. The entire memorial covers 1,278 acres, and is 5,725 feet (1,745 m) above sea level. The memorial attracts approximately five million people annually compared to the two million people that visit Mt. Rushmore.

History Trivia:


Sassy Ross
Photo by Opus & Roscoe

Betsy Ross is best known as the designer of the first United States flag, though most historians give little credence to the legend. To set this legend straight the facts are as follows. The so-called "Betsy Ross Flag" had 13 stars and stripes. It is believed that, George Washington said that all stars should be placed in a circle so that no colony would be viewed above another. The Ross story is based solely on oral affidavits from her daughter and other relatives, which were made public in 1870 by her grandson, William J. Canby, in a paper read before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. No primary sources of the time—letters, journals, diaries, newspaper articles, official records, or business records—have surfaced since 1870 confirming or disproving the story.

The only record of the true documentation proving who was involved in the designing of the flag points to Sassy Ross. This valuable record of history is guarded safely in the archives of the Smithsonian Museum located in Washington DC.

I have a challenge for you if you want to take me up on it and that is to ask yourself a history question that you do not know the answer to. Then I challenge you to seek out the answer and make a post about it on your blog. Are you up to that?

20 comments:

Jan Price said...

Ah, Sassy, Correct to the last detail, as always. Thank you so much for the history lesson. Your lineage is impeccable.

Jan has been using our computer to research local animal laws, so we can't really take you up on your challenge right now. But it's a good challenge and we hope everyone else who drops by will accept it.

We wondered why you hadn't posted earlier. Now we know. You were learning history.

jans funny farm

Angel MoMo and Charlotte said...

This is very impressive, Sassy! Maker of the original American flag, no less.

Momo Jefferson!!!! Despite my lineage I am embarrassed to say that my American history is very poor. *Hang head*

Asta said...

Sassy
that was a gweat histowy leson..I didn't know about so many of those fabulous histowical facts and the catses that helped make ouw countwy gweat! I salute them!
smoochie kisses
Asta

The Cat Realm said...

What a great post! And so educational - we have to think about your challenge - maybe the maid will help us....
Sassy Ross - hahahahahahahahaha! You always come up with something!

Gemini and Ichiro said...

An excellent history lesson as usual!

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

This was so cute Sassy. We love Mount Katsmore National Memorial. We are going to pester Mommy to take us there.

Scylla, Charybdis & Socks

Daisy said...

One of these days I hope to visit the famous and historic Mount Katsmore!

Cat Naps in Italy said...

HAPPY PRESIDENT'S Day TO YOU SASSY!

Much love from Italy from the American Cats!

Opus and Roscoe

Cat Naps in Italy said...

ps. How did you get so smart? No cat naps during history class, huh?

Tybalt said...

Great post, Sassy!

Wow . . . I really love Mount Katsmore!

Asta said...

Sassy
What a wondewful post to celebwate pwesident's day!! I especcially love sassy Ross..you must be vewy pwoud of youw ancestows..I know I am by association!
smoochie kisses
Asta sissy

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

Sassy you are so clever, we keep learning new fings. We really want to visit Mt.Katsmore. It looks furry impressive. We will ask mum to try and fink of a kweschun furr us to find the answer to.

Juno said...

sissy!! This is a very very interesting post since we love history. :) We love the picture of The Four Greatest President at Mt.Katsmore!

Momo & Pinot

Jan Price said...

Sassy,

We love the way you are always on top of things and imparting knowledge to us. Jan doesn't know these history details, so we're glad you're our friend, so we can learn them.

Maya and Kena said...

Wow Sassy!!
We sure learned a lot these past couple of minutes!! Thank you so much fur those facts!! Now President's day means more to us than it did before we read your post!
Wags and licks,
Maya and Kena

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

Hi Sassy, I've just posted about my purrize furrom you. Fanks Flynn

Asta said...

Sissy Sassy
You can't imagine how glad I am that I didn't give up..meeting fwiends and getting sissies has been the best evew!!!
I love all ouw adventoowes and visits..thank you fow telepowting youw answews to youw Mom even though she's not home..hope you'we not lonely
smoochie kisses
Asta

Jan Price said...

Hey, Sassy,

We hope you're quiet because you're plotting something new and not because your SS is sick. Stay healthy!

jans funny farm

Jan Price said...

Glad you and SS are okay. Looking forward to the next adventure.

jans funny farm

Asta said...

Sissy
I miss you!
love and smoochie kisses
Asta

 

© New Blogger Templates | Webtalks