Celebrating two of the nation’s most effective presidents

Happy Presidents Day! On Monday we celebrate two presidential birthdays: that of our first president, George Washington, on Feb. 22, 1732, and that of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, on Feb. 12, 1809.

The holiday is aptly named “Presidents Day,” though it did start out as a singular birthday celebration for George Washington alone. Now, the third Monday of each February is spent commemorating the births of two past presidents, as well as a general celebration of our nation’s chief executives. 

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This photo was snapped at a historical reenactment event hosted at Valley Forge National Historical Park in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Cadet Captain Joseph Gasker of Valley Forge Military Academy performed the role of General George Washington, kneeling in prayer in the presence of 5,000 Boy Scouts of the Valley Forge Council “who camped there overnight (in the snow) in commemoration of his birthday” the caption reads — the “he” in question being Washington. As the Cadet Captain knelt in the snow, the Rev. Dr. John R. Hart, the rector of Washington Memorial Chapel (the carillon tower in background), read aloud Washington’s Prayer for the country: 

“Almighty God: We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large.

“And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”