HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2016-4662, by Representatives Chopp, Kristiansen, Appleton, Bergquist, Blake, Buys, Caldier, Chandler, Clibborn, Cody, Condotta, DeBolt, Dent, Dunshee, Dye, Farrell, Fey, Fitzgibbon, Frame, Goodman, Gregerson, Griffey, Haler, Hansen, Hargrove, Harmsworth, Harris, Hawkins, Hayes, Hickel, Holy, Hudgins, S. Hunt, Hurst, Jinkins, Johnson, Kagi, Kilduff, Kirby, Klippert, Kochmar, Kretz, Kuderer, Lytton, MacEwen, Magendanz, Manweller, McBride, McCabe, McCaslin, Moeller, Morris, Moscoso, Muri, Nealey, Orcutt, Ormsby, Ortiz-Self, Orwall, Parker, Peterson, Pettigrew, Pike, Pollet, Reykdal, Riccelli, Robinson, Rodne, Rossetti, Ryu, Santos, Sawyer, Schmick, Scott, Sells, Senn, Shea, Short, Smith, Springer, Stambaugh, Stanford, Stokesbary, Sullivan, Tarleton, Taylor, Tharinger, Van De Wege, Van Werven, Vick, Walkinshaw, Walsh, Wilcox, Wilson, Wylie, Young, and Zeiger

WHEREAS, Washington is the only state named for an American president, George Washington, the father of our country, and as such, Washingtonians hold the presidency and presidents in especially high regard; and

WHEREAS, Both February 22nd, the actual birthday of President George Washington, and February 12th, the actual birthday of President Abraham Lincoln, were kept and observed until 1971 as the anniversaries of the births of these two great American presidents; and

WHEREAS, Washington State and the nation have set aside the third Monday of every February to celebrate George Washington's and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays, as both of these presidents were born in February; and

WHEREAS, George Washington led the Revolutionary Army with courage and fortitude and, then serving as the first President of the United States, defined the office and remained ever mindful of his actions and the ramifications carried by his deeds; and

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States, architect of the Emancipation Proclamation, and driving force behind the destruction of slavery, preserved the Union in the midst of a terrible civil war which threatened to tear our nation apart; and

WHEREAS, Although George Washington was unanimously elected to the presidency, he gave himself the simple title of "Mr. President," choosing to be a citizen rather than a king; and

WHEREAS, Although Abraham Lincoln gained the distinction of being a great statesman with impeccable morals, he never lost sight of his humble beginnings or the values he shared with the common man; and

WHEREAS, We reflect on all forty-three presidents who guided the country through the obstacles of their day, thereby lifting up the whole nation and leading us all toward a more perfect union; and

WHEREAS, We recognize the first ladies of our nation, who have not only provided citizens with role models who exemplify what it means to be an American, but have also served as symbols of strength in times of adversity; and

WHEREAS, We recognize the efforts made by the presidents and first ladies to uphold liberty and freedom in the face of tyranny and injustice and reflect on our nation's de facto motto, E pluribus unum, which means "Out of many, one;"

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That on this fifteenth day of February 2016, the House of Representatives honor the first and sixteenth presidents of the United States for their immeasurable contributions to, and noble sacrifices for, the causes of liberty, equality, and justice.