Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Americans Commemorate Presidents Day Monday

VOA News

   Americans commemorate Presidents Day Monday, a federal holiday honoring
   all U.S. presidents.

   The holiday is observed on the third Monday of February, the birth
   month of two of the country's most prominentpresidents -George
   Washington, the nation's first president, and Abraham Lincoln, who led
   the country through the Civil War.

   While some U.S. workers have the day off, including federal employees
   and bankers, many do not.

   Taking place in the middle of winter, the holiday is not associated
   with the barbeques and picnics of summerholidays andis often used as an
   opportunity for companies to offerdiscountedcar and retail sales.

   This year, a Boston-based auction house, RR Auction, is timing an
   auction of presidential memorabilia around the holiday.

   Nearly 300 presidential artifacts are available to be bid on in the
   online auction, including John F. Kennedy's crimson Harvard sweater,
   locks of Washington's hair, and a signed photograph of Lincoln.

   The auction also includes documents from many presidents, including
   John Quincy Adams, James Madison, and Ulysses S.Grant.

   Beginnings

   Presidents Day got its beginnings with the celebration of Washington's
   birthday every year on February 22.

   Congress officially made the day a federal holiday in 1968, when it
   also moved it to the third Monday of Februaryto make a three-day
   weekend.

.