A Major Holiday for August

 

Did you ever notice that there are no major federal holidays in August in the United States? I'm talking about the kind of holidays recognized by employers, courts, banks, and the post office. There are probably scads of days during the month that have been glommed onto by various particular interests as special days like International Vampire Bat Day or National Pecan Pie Day. The whole month may have been co-opted as Foot Fungus Awareness Month or something like that; I never pay attention to those. 

There must be a slew of local and state fairs during the month to celebrate local identity and accomplishments by gorging on grease and sugar at the midway food booths and regurgitating it as an offering to friends and strangers on the tilt-a-whirl. 

Has August been reserved for local events? 

The whole nation of France seems to be on vacation in August--for the entire month--yet we have no major holiday for the month. Why is that?

The important dates in August that come to mind for me include the start of WWI, in which millions died--so that's probably out as a holiday--and V-J Day to end WWII. I can understand the reasons for not making that a major holiday. 

Other events include Lewis and Clark--Lewis anyway--reaching Lemhi pass in on the Continental Divide to behold a sea of mountains extending before him on August 12, 1805. I guess no one wants to celebrate a day of partial accomplishment.

 Columbus set sail August 3, 1492. We already celebrate him in October.

The Declaration of Independence was formally signed August 2, 1776. That one's swallowed up in the July 4 celebration. 

Warren G. Harding died August 2, 1923. Probably not a good candidate for a national holiday.

The British sailed up the Chesapeake and burned the Capitol and other government buildings on August 24, 1814. While some may consider asking our old pals across the pond to re-enact that event, I doubt it will catch on as a major holiday in this country.

The Great Klondike Gold Rush kicked off August 16, 1896. I don't imagine that would be a good basis for a national holiday.

The 19th Amendment passed in August 18, 1920. I imagine that there are still some who question the wisdom of that one. Those folks are now outvoted, so this is a viable August holiday contender. 

The 18th is also the birthday of Meriwether Lewis. We could throw in William Clark for fun and make it Lewis and Clark Day. Additionally, it was August 17th or perhaps the 13th that the Corps of Discovery encountered Chief Cameahwait, Sacajawea's brother, of the Shoshoni, who provided horses at this crucial point in the expedition. I've probably mentioned this before, but I highly recommend Stephen Ambrose's book Undaunted Courage about the Corps of Discovery.

We should make a day between August 12th and 18th Chief Cameahwait and Sacajawea Day, or a day to commemorate the entire Corps of Discovery. As one of the greatest expeditions of discovery in American history, the Corps and those who sustained them along the way should be recognized with an annual holiday.

Contact your congressmen and demand a federal holiday to celebrate Cameahwait, Sacajawea, and the Corps of Discovery.

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