Of Presidents and Trees

Presidents’ Day–no mail, banks closed in memory of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. I wonder, today, how many will think of the contributions to our country these two men made? Or, to how many will it mean only banks closed, no mail? In time, how many will remember that George Washington was born on February 22 and Mr. Lincoln on February 12? Shouldn’t they at least be remembered on their actual days?

This morning I read an interesting story about another President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and a stubborn and power-resistant Loblolly Pine. Recently, it had to be removed because of severe ice damage. Mr. Eisenhower, the most powerful man in the world, enjoyed golfing at the Augusta National Golf Club. He enjoyed it except for one thing–the pine. It stood squarely in the way and the only thing to do was hit the golf ball over it or somehow, around it. The tree infuriated the President because he hit it so often. He campaigned to have it removed but was over-ruled. And the tree became known as The Eisenhower Tree–Ike’s Tree. I’m sure the beautiful, 65-foot tall pine will be missed but probably Ike would be delighted, would smile that wide, infectious grin, triumphant at last. Or…maybe not. It isn’t often that a tree meets with the power of the Presidency and comes out the winner! Ike would have recognized tenacity and respected it.

Past Presidents all had traits worthy of respect, whether we agreed with them politically or not. Today is special, not only for Mr. Washington and Mr. Lincoln, but for all those duly elected officials who were given the enormous responsibility of steering this old Ship of State safely through troubled waters and charting a course for freedom and the rights of the individual.