Captain’s Column
We celebrate Presidents’ Day on Monday, Feb. 18. For some of us, we think of it merely as a day off from work. For those of us on board Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, it is an opportunity to honor the history and achievements of our nation’s prominent leaders.
Presidents’ Day is celebrated the third Monday each February. The holiday originally celebrated the birth of George Washington, Feb. 22, 1732; and then in 1971, Presidents’ Day was commonly accepted to also honor the birth of Abraham Lincoln, Feb. 12, 1809.
Though nearly 80 years separate the birth of these two great Americans, both are remembered for their tenacity in fighting for their principles.
For Washington, it was the founding of the nation; for Lincoln, it was saving the “Union” and helping to readjust the nation’s moral compass.
Washington’s achievements as a leader of the Revolutionary Army are renown to all as our young nation fought for its independence from Great Britain, then the world’s largest military force.
If you stop to look back at his role in the creation of the United States of America, you can see several historic decisions were made by Washington that shaped the nation for all time.
Perhaps the most notable was the one symbolized by Valley Forge – the decision to continue to lead what must have seemed to most a totally hopeless struggle against the British for independence.
Another decision came after Cornwallis surrendered and before the Continental Army disbanded. A group of his officers had a plan to get rid of the Continental Congress and make Washington the king of the new nation.
He quickly squelched that idea. When the peace treaty was signed, he went back home to lead the life of a quiet civilian. He was older than 50 and had served his nation long and well.
But when he was asked to come back as the unanimous choice to be our first President, he again gave of himself and set the new country on a firm course.
What you may not know is that Lincoln served in a limited military capacity before becoming the commander-in-chief for the Union Army’s campaign against the Confederate Army.
As a volunteer in the Illinois Militia during the Black Hawk War, April 21-July 10, 1832, he never saw combat, but was elected as the captain of his company.
Among his duties following two of the war’s battles involved helping to bury militia members who died in combat. His limited service proved to have a lasting impression on him later in life.
He served in the most divisive time in our nation’s history – the Civil War, 1861-1865, which would eventually determine the path the nation would follow.
It was during this time that Lincoln championed the concept of “all men were created with an equal right to liberty,” and was a powerful advocate for the abolishment of slavery. In fact, he advocated for the cause long before becoming President of the United States.
When Lincoln delivered his address at Gettysburg he said, “The world will little note nor long remember what we say here.”
He was wrong. The world has greatly noted and continues to remember the man who so eloquently reminded us of the battles that were fought so the “government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.”
This day of commemoration provides an opportunity to enjoy time with friends and family – and to reflect on these founding fathers and great leaders of our past.