Mrs. Gunn's Diary: Feb. 12, 1942

The Boy Scouts fill her day; nation's capital observes Lincoln's birthday

“A busy day with a thousand interruptions because the boy scouts have their Father and Son banquet tomorrow night,” Mrs. Gunn wrote. She was in charge of decorating the tables. As always, she was proud of her oldest son, Ross Jr., who had been asked by a group of scouts to become their patrol leader. “When he tackles a job he goes at it with a vengeance and he gets it done! Those boys will have to work!”

Elsewhere in the District of Columbia, President Roosevelt paid homage to Abraham Lincoln on his birthday. Did you know it was never a federal holiday? Paid subscribers can read on about the observations, which vary from state to state. This was news to me!

The postcard above was one of many issued in celebration of the centennial of Lincoln’s birth, Feb. 12, 1809. It is being offered by a dealer on eBay. Notice that the postcard describes Lincoln as the country’s “first martyred president.” By 1908, two others had joined the list: James Garfield and William McKinley.