Presidents' Day - when is it?

Is the meaning of federal holidays being lost?

Before 1971 George Washington's birthday was celebrated as a federal holiday on February 22. Illinois and a few other states celebrate Abraham Lincoln's birthday on February 12.

The Uniform Monday Holiday Act took effect on January 1, 1971, and this shifted "Washington's birthday" to the third Monday in February. The result is that Washington's birthday is never celebrated on his birthday, but only between February 15 and 21.

I wonder how many people, whether workers or students, ever pause on this day to think what the purpose of this federal holiday is. Banks are closed; there is no mail delivery; government offices are closed.

And the rest of the workers? Working away at companies that do not close on this "holiday." So, why should government workers get a paid day off and the rest of the workers don't?