As I write this it is a National Holiday, which we now call President’s Day. It is to honor all presidents but the two I think of is George Washington, The Father of Our Country and Abraham Lincoln, The Great Emancipator.

Our nation’s capital city was named for the country’s first president, George Washington. He was born February 22, 1732 into an affluent family; he was a farmer, a patriot, a soldier and a statesman. Through the long weary years of the Revolutionary War, his leadership and courage brought the poorly equipped and untrained army through to victory. His vision and intelligence and influence molded the drafting of the Constitution of the new United States of America. Elected as president, he had the task of organizing the new government. Through his two terms, the United States passed safely through the formation period and had welded into a nation. He declared that the first duty of Americans is to be American. “Do justice to all and never forget that we are Americans.”

The 16th president is also very important on this day. Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin on February 12, 1809 and he attended school less than one year. As a self-taught man he became not only a lawyer but a great orator and writer. During his life he had many disappointments and defeats but he rose above them to become one of the most revered and beloved statesman and president in all history.

Known for his honest humor, when called “two-faced” by a rival, he replied, “If I had two faces, would I be wearing this one?” When referred to as very common-looking, he answered, “The Lord prefers common-looking people. That is the reason he made so many of them.”

I enjoy this month with all its special days. February can be a cold month and even with our recent snowfall, Spring will be coming.

Here is a special dessert for a special month.

CHERRY CHEESECAKE

1 1/2 sticks margarine

2 cups graham

cracker-crumbs

1/4 cup sugar

2 pkgs. 8oz cream

cheese

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. vanilla

flavoring

1 can cherry pie filling

1/4 tsp. cherry

flavoring

1/4 tsp. almond

Mix together margarine, graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup sugar and press into a 10 inch baking pan.

Combine cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, eggs and vanilla flavoring; beat until smooth and creamy. Spoon cream filling over graham cracker mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool.

Mix cherry pie filling with flavorings. Spread over the top of cheesecake. Keep in the refrigerator.

“George Washington, is the only president who didn’t blame the previous administration for his troubles.”-unknown