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  Thomas Jefferson said:

  “By the mid-1980s, with a push from advertisers, the term “Presidents’ Day” began its public appearance.The theme has expanded the focus of the holiday to honor another President born in February, Abraham Lincoln, and OFTEN OTHER Presidents of the United States. Although Lincoln’s birthday, February 12, was never a federal holiday, approximately a dozen state governments have officially renamed their Washington’s Birthday observances as “Presidents Day”, “Washington and Lincoln Day”, or other such designations. However, “Presidents Day” is not ALWAYS an all-inclusive term.”

  You are half correct. I’d say there’s a little room for open interpretation if you would be so gracious as to allow it. These other states have!

  ” - In Massachusetts, while the state officially celebrates “Washington’s Birthday,” state law also prescribes that the governor issue an annual Presidents Day proclamation honoring the presidents that have come from Massachusetts: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge, and John F. Kennedy.[2] (Coolidge, the only one born outside of Massachusetts, spent his entire political career before the vice presidency there. George H. W. Bush, on the other hand, was born in Massachusetts, but has spent most of his life elsewhere.)

  - Alabama uniquely observes the day as “Washington and Jefferson Day”, even though Jefferson’s birthday was in April.[3]
  In New Jersey, Connecticut and Illinois, while Washington’s Birthday is a federal holiday, Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is still a state holiday, falling on February 12 regardless of the day of the week.

  - In California, Lincoln’s Birthday is also a legal state holiday, however, observance is frequently moved to the Monday or Friday occurring closest to February 12. When Lincoln’s Birthday is observed on the Friday preceding Washington’s Birthday, the resultant four-day weekend is commonly called “Presidents’ Day Weekend”, particularly by retailers in their sale advertisements.

  - In Washington’s home state of Virginia the holiday is legally known as “George Washington Day.”

  - In Alabama, the third Monday in February commemorates the birthdays of both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson (who was born in April).[4]

  - In Arkansas, the third Monday in February is “George Washington’s Birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day,” an official state holiday.

  - In New Mexico, President’s Day, at least as a state government paid holiday, is observed on the Friday following Thanksgiving.[5]

  “The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees in every object only the traits which favor that theory.” Thomas Jefferson

  “He who knows best knows how little he knows. ” Thomas Jefferson

  # 17 February 2009 at 1:04 pm

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