FFRC Blog Week Ending February 14, 2026
Well, Valentine's Day has come and gone! With that, February is half-way past, as well! Those of us in the United States are looking forward to the end of this cold and snowy weather and will be celebrating President's Day on Monday, February 16th.
Here are 100 fun facts about President’s Day (https://mentalbomb.com/presidents-day-fun-facts)--OK, this is a lot to take in--LOL!! I also made a few updates as the information was a little dated.
- President’s Day is always celebrated on the third Monday in February.
- President’s Day is a federal holiday, which means that banks, post offices, and government offices are closed.
- President’s Day is also known as Washington’s Birthday.
- The holiday was originally established to honor George Washington’s birthday, which was on February 22nd.
- George Washington was born on February 22, 1732.
- George Washington was the first president of the United States.
- The holiday was first celebrated as a federal holiday in 1885.
- The holiday was originally celebrated on February 22nd.
- The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971 moved the holiday to the third Monday in February.
- President’s Day is now seen as a day to honor all U.S. presidents, not just George Washington.
- Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is also in February (February 12th), so he is often honored on President’s Day as well.
- President’s Day is also known as “Washington and Lincoln Day” in some states.
- Some states also celebrate the birthdays of other notable presidents, such as Thomas Jefferson, on President’s Day.
- President’s Day is not an official name for the holiday, but it has become the popular name.
- President’s Day is a popular time for retailers to offer sales and discounts.
- President’s Day weekend is a popular time for people to travel.
- Some people use President’s Day weekend to go skiing or snowboarding.
- The largest Presidents Day parade is held in Alexandria, Virginia.
- The first President’s Day parade was held in 1796 in Philadelphia to honor George Washington.
- President’s Day is sometimes called National Freedom Day.
- President’s Day is sometimes called American Heritage Day.
- President’s Day is sometimes called George Washington Day.
- Some states, like California, do not recognize President’s Day as a state holiday.
- President’s Day is not celebrated in other countries.
- President’s Day is a time for people to reflect on the contributions of U.S. presidents to the country.
- President’s Day is a time to celebrate democracy and the freedom that the United States enjoys.
- President’s Day is a time to honor the American spirit and the resilience of the American people.
- The official name of the holiday is still “Washington’s Birthday” in some states, such as Virginia.
- The date of the holiday is sometimes called “Presidents Day” in calendars and other official documents.
- Some people celebrate President’s Day by visiting historic sites, such as Mount Vernon, Monticello, or the Lincoln Memorial.
- Some people celebrate President’s Day by watching movies about U.S. presidents, such as Lincoln, JFK, or The American President.
- Some people celebrate President’s Day by cooking traditional American foods, such as apple pie or fried chicken.
- Some people celebrate President’s Day by hosting a barbecue with friends and family.
- Some people celebrate President’s Day by dressing up as U.S. presidents or other historical figures.
- President’s Day is a time for schools to teach students about U.S. history and the role that U.S. presidents have played in shaping the country.
- President’s Day is a time to remember the sacrifices that U.S. presidents have made in service to the country.
- President’s Day is a time to honor the men and women who have served as U.S. presidents and the legacy that they have left behind.
- George Washington was the only president to be unanimously elected by the Electoral College.
- George Washington was also the only president to not represent a political party.
- George Washington was a skilled horseman and had several horses throughout his life, including his famous horse named Nelson.
- John Adams was the first president to live in the White House, which was completed in 1800.
- Thomas Jefferson was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington D.C., in 1801.
- James Madison was the shortest president, standing only 5 feet 4 inches tall.
- James Monroe was the last president to have served in the Revolutionary War.
- John Quincy Adams, son of John Adams, was the first president to be photographed.
- Andrew Jackson was the first president to ride on a train.
- Martin Van Buren was the first president to be born in the United States.
- William Henry Harrison was the first president to die in office, serving only 31 days before his death.
- John Tyler was the first vice president to become president after the death of a sitting president.
- James K. Polk was the first president to have his photograph taken while in office.
- Zachary Taylor was the second president to die in office, serving only 16 months before his death.
- Millard Fillmore was the first president to have a bathtub installed in the White House.
- Franklin Pierce was the first president to have a Christmas tree in the White House.
- James Buchanan was the only president who never married.
- Abraham Lincoln was the tallest president, standing 6 feet 4 inches tall.
- Abraham Lincoln was also the first president to have a beard.
- Andrew Johnson was the first president to be impeached.
- Ulysses S. Grant was the first president to have a speeding ticket, for driving his horse and buggy too fast.
- Rutherford B. Hayes was the first president to use a telephone.
- James A. Garfield was the second president to be assassinated, serving only 200 days before his death.
- Chester A. Arthur was the first president to be born a U.S. citizen, rather than a British subject.
- Grover Cleveland was the first president to get married in the White House, and also the first president to serve two non-consecutive terms.
- Benjamin Harrison was the first president to use electric lights in the White House.
- William McKinley was the third president to be assassinated, serving six months into his second term.
- Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest president, serving from age 42 to 50.
- William Howard Taft was the heaviest president, weighing over 300 pounds.
- Woodrow Wilson was the first president to hold regular press conferences.
- Warren G. Harding was the first president to own a radio in the White House.
- Calvin Coolidge was the first president to give a speech on the radio.
- Herbert Hoover was the first president born west of the Mississippi River.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt was the only president to serve more than two terms, serving four terms before the 22nd Amendment was passed limiting presidents to two terms.
- Harry S. Truman was the first president to address the nation on television.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to use a helicopter for transportation.
- John F. Kennedy was the youngest person ever elected president, at age 43.
- Lyndon B. Johnson was the first president to sign the Civil Rights Act into law.
- Richard Nixon was the first president to visit China while in office.
- Richard Nixon was the first president to resign from office, following the Watergate scandal.
- Gerald Ford was the first president who was not elected to the office of president or vice president, but instead was appointed to the position after Nixon’s resignation.
- Jimmy Carter was the first president to be born in a hospital.
- Ronald Reagan was one of the oldest presidents, serving from age 69 to 77.
- George H.W. Bush was the first president to celebrate Thanksgiving in Saudi Arabia with U.S. troops during the Gulf War.
- Bill Clinton was the first president to be impeached by the House of Representatives, but he was later acquitted by the Senate.
- George W. Bush was the first president to have a MBA degree.
- Barack Obama was the first African American to be elected to the presidency.
- Barack Obama was also the first president to have a Twitter account while in office.
- Donald Trump was the first president to be impeached twice, but he was acquitted both times by the Senate.
- Joe Biden is the oldest person ever elected to the presidency, at age 78.
- Joe Biden is also the second Catholic president, after John F. Kennedy.
- There have been 47 presidents, but only 44 men have held the office, as Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms and is counted as both the 22nd and 24th president and Donald Trump served as both the 45th and 47th president.
- Seven presidents were born in Virginia, making it the state with the most presidential births.
- Four presidents have won the Nobel Peace Prize: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama.
- Only one president, James Polk, was speaker of the House of Representatives before becoming president.
- Five presidents were vice presidents before becoming president: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Van Buren, Richard Nixon, and George H.W. Bush.
- Four presidents were assassinated while in office: Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy.
- Three presidents died in office from natural causes: William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- The highest salary ever paid to a president was $400,000 per year, which was the salary for Barack Obama and is still the current salary for the position.
- The presidential limousine, also known as “The Beast,” is equipped with advanced security features, including bulletproof windows and a tear gas cannon.
- The Secret Service began protecting the president in 1901 after the assassination of William McKinley.
- The presidential aircraft is known as Air Force One when the president is aboard.
- There are over 14,000 books written about George Washington, making him the most written-about president
If you read the entire list, WOW!!!!
SCOOT, now WAFFLES was adopted on Friday, 2/13. He went home with his Daddy, where he will be the King of the Castle and watch sports and just hang-out doing "Guy Things". Waffles was 4 months and 18 days at his adoption. He arrived with Angelique and his siblings when he just a tiny baby. Waffles only had about a 5-minute drive and had lots of toys waiting for him. Special thanks to Valerie C who supplied a blankie for Waffles.
Intakes:
Our friends Stacy and Kat have been caring for feral cats at a local park for quite some time. While they were visiting them, they came across a set of siblings that were being a bit too amorous with each other. They were able to trap one brother (TIPPY) and sister (MYLIE) and help them not become parents. They have another brother who is feral and will be trapped as soon as possible. The initial plan was to release these two; however, they really aren't feral, just a bit unsocialized. They were scared at first but are becoming love bugs and really like to be petted. Tippy is a black and white cat with very large feet. Mylie is also of similar colors.
We also have a boy that showed up on the FFRC property a couple of weeks ago. He also is a bit unsocialized and is not yet neutered. We haven't yet named this boy. He is between 2 and 3 years old. A blood draw was done and he tested negative. He is in pretty rough shape and has wounds on his forelegs. These wounds are on the outer surface of each front leg and are horizontal up to his shoulders. His legs are swollen and infected. We currently have him on meds to help with the swelling, infection and pain. We don't know what caused the wounds and will most likely never know. We do second blood draws on all of our kitties. It is especially important for this boy. Once healed and neutered, he will be one of our outside kitties. He is a big boy and loves to eat.
Hopefully, will have pictures of these new kitties soon.
Health Updates:
MAGIC has been feeling under the weather recently. He was taken to Dr. Darcy's office on Thursday. He has pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas, which is the organ responsible for producing digestive enzymes and hormones, like insulin. This is not a common condition, but not all that unusual either. Magic stayed at the vet's office until Saturday. He did not like being there. While he was there, he also was found to have a slight issue of inflammatory bowel disease. This 11-and-a-half-year-old (can you believe that?) was, as Dr. Darcy said, "It's hard to do an ultrasound on a glow worm." He is home now and is in a pen so we can monitor him.
TIMMY is on hold. His adoption has been re-scheduled to 2/21 at 10:00 am.
SPIKER wants his human servants to cover him up.
Events:
Current Needs:
A list is kept up to date on the Amazon Wish List found on the FFRC website. We are extremely low on Baby Wipes!
Other:
We had a Humane Ohio event on Tuesday. We were able to send up 21 males and 30 females to be "fixed". If you figure each cat has at least 7 kitties, this one event prevented 350 cats from being born--this doesn't count the additional kitties that would be born from the kittens of the newly spayed cats. There were no official FFRC cats sent. We are very thankful that Humane Ohio now allows 10 more cats to be sent per visit, because their transport truck holds more.
Megan and Lynnette visited Humane Ohio this week!
The farrier visited on Wednesday. Lucy and Sunshine are now sporting their Spring pedis (without the polish)!
Many of you may have noticed a little change in YouTube. Our Mods now have a blue shield next to their names, instead of a wrench! Also, when you like the FFRC page, a paw-print flashes. If you just tried this to see if I knew what I was talking about, make sure that you didn't unlike in the process!
If you haven't looked at our Instagram page, please do!! There are great pictures of our center's kitties. Thanks so much!
The Kitten Lady is coming to Ft. Wayne on March 19. Megan and Team are looking forward to attending the event and learning more about kitten care and also sharing their information on CH cats with her.
FFRC is looking for volunteers. Candidates need to be at least 18 years old and have transportation to get here. Volunteers work set shifts and have assigned tasks, which include cleaning, feeding and other caring for cats. Please contact Megan if you would like to help.
2026 Calendars are now available and are being offered in two sizes: 8 1/2 x 12 or 8 1/2 x 14. Orders for calendars will be through the FFRC Store and also on the FFRC website. We are unable to take orders via the phone or e-mail. I've received mine, how about you?
Photos by Dawn and friends.
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"Thanks to our angels, we can do a lot of medical good."
Our very own Debbie
"Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you."
Eileen Caddy
