Today we debate the ' ... or not

Some say it’s Presidents Day (“No apostrophe, and you can quote me.” — David Stevens).

Others say it’s President’s Day (Clovis-Carver Public Library).

Others say it’s Presidents’ Day (Clovis Municipal Schools).

So what, exactly, is Monday?

Paragraph 5: This isn’t something worth threatening anybody’s paycheck or employment. It’s pretty unimportant on balance, and probably not worth an entire column. Yet, I still find it interesting there’s no consensus on such a simple thing.

A few days ago, a Facebook friend who is a teacher asked grammar nerds if the holiday includes an apostrophe. She’d always been taught it did not, but the internet gave us both President’s Day and Presidents’ Day.

I said no apostrophe, without consulting newspaper Editor David Stevens. I pulled out The Associated Press style book. The entry: “Presidents Day: Not adopted by the federal government as the official name of the Washington’s Birthday holiday. However, some federal agencies, states and local governments use the term.”

Seemed legitimate to me. We are celebrating the presidents, and they don’t possess the day. No apostrophe.

Somebody else consulted Merriam-Webster, which said Presidents’ Day. If I was wrong, I figured this was the proper apostrophe placement, because we’re honoring multiple presidents.

I know there’s somebody in the peanut gallery saying, “A teacher should know this already.” I’m giving the teacher a pass on this one, because the district seemed conflicted as well. A Thursday email from the Clovis district includes a photo that says, “Clovis Municipal Schools will be closed Presidents’ Day.” The photo’s file name? President’s_Day.png. Refer to Paragraph 5, please.

And Thursday, the Clovis library faxed us a brief item to publish. The library would be closed on President’s Day.

Fine, let’s go to the archives — the state archives, since there’s no national holiday and no national standard.

According to New Mexico State Statute 12-5-2, “Legal public holidays in New Mexico are: ... C. Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthday, President’s day, third Monday in February.”

So, that’s the final say. It is President’s Day in the borders of New Mexico. But this isn’t well-written code. Lincoln was born Feb. 12 and Washington was born Feb. 22. So it should either be written as “Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays” or “Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthday (observed).” But on this one, it’s probably not worth my time to fight Santa Fe.

In case you were interested, we mark Hemophilia Awareness Day on the second Monday of June, New Mexico Youth Day as the first Saturday of August, Family Day the second Sunday in September and celebrate the Aug. 3 birthday of writer and World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle. I wonder how he would have spelled the holiday.

So it’s President’s Day ... unless you’re in a state that spells it another way. Or the person who typed New Mexico statutes entered it wrong. Ugh ... Refer to paragraph 5.

Kevin Wilson is managing editor of The Eastern New Mexico News. Contact him at: [email protected]