Columbus Day Holiday Often Business As Usual
Everett Taylor
Quickly now, what American federal holiday is observed on Oct. 8?
Except for government employees, people might have to think a bit to come up with the answer because most years that particular date has no special meaning at all.
But this year, Monday, Oct. 8, is Columbus Day, one of those three-day-weekend holidays established by Congress in 1971.
Since the original Columbus Day (the birth date of Christopher Columbus, credited with discovering America) is Oct. 12, that might make it a little harder to associate the event with the earlier date. Christopher would be 556-years-old Friday if he were still around.
Even though Congress decreed this as a federal holiday, observance of the event never caught on widely outside government operations. It is business as usual for most commercial operations, including the stock exchange.
One reason the rest of us need to be aware of the Columbus Day holiday Monday, however, is so we won't be wondering what time the postman is coming. And with a long weekend accumulation of mail to be handled, he or she might be a little late on the Tuesday rounds.
Some people don't particularly like to observe a holiday called Columbus Day anyway, judging by a report from Lawrence, Kan.
That is the home of the Haskell Indian Nations University. Students there are leading a movement to rename the holiday Indigenous Peoples Day. They plan to march and demonstrate Monday to promote their case.
A lot of Americans still think fondly of Columbus as the man who discovered their country and opened the way for its eventual development into the greatest and most powerful nation the world has known. Many will remember him on Oct. 12.
As for the Columbus Day holiday itself in its present format, there likely are other more widely noted events this month. Even Halloween, although not a holiday for anybody as far as we know, appears to be more widely recognized.
In Tyler and East Texas, the month's feature event is the Texas Rose Festival, scheduled for its 74th presentation Oct. 18-21 this year. Since its beginning in 1933, the festival has developed and grown in size and participation, drawing visitors from throughout the state and beyond.
Another traditional event hasn't been going quite as long, but it also attracts visitors.
It is the East Texas Historical Fire Society's 22nd Annual Muster, billed as a family event, centered on the fire service. This year's big day is Saturday, Oct. 27.
Early registration, refreshments and fellowship will be held the enjoyed of Oct. 26 at Central Station South.
The muster again will be held at the Brookshire Lake Palestine campgrounds. Features include a fire equipment and memorabilia swap meet, fire apparatus judging in several categories, demonstrations and clinics, said David Crim, a Society spokesperson.
Book Recommendation
Texas Rangers, the original Old West version, often have been the subject of books, but Pat Goodrich, a writer who lives at Pinehurst, claims to have found one never written about before.
"Ransom, Texas Ranger, An American Hero," is the book Goodrich has produced inspired by a man never written about, who lived in the fast lane during an earlier era when the adjutant generals were in charge. Also, check the index for one in your family tree."
"One of our great captains," the author says of the book's subject. Ransom twice volunteered in the Spanish-American War, first joined the Texas Rangers in 1905, and was a special detective in Houston and later Houston's Chief of Police.
Two other times he served as a company captain in the Texas Rangers, and was killed while on duty in 1918 at age 44.
Something to watch for later, Goodrich said, is a movie by the author based on the book. The film script won first place in the biographical category of an international filmfest over 6,000 film entries and scripts from 34 countries.
Except for government employees, people might have to think a bit to come up with the answer because most years that particular date has no special meaning at all.
But this year, Monday, Oct. 8, is Columbus Day, one of those three-day-weekend holidays established by Congress in 1971.
Since the original Columbus Day (the birth date of Christopher Columbus, credited with discovering America) is Oct. 12, that might make it a little harder to associate the event with the earlier date. Christopher would be 556-years-old Friday if he were still around.
Even though Congress decreed this as a federal holiday, observance of the event never caught on widely outside government operations. It is business as usual for most commercial operations, including the stock exchange.
One reason the rest of us need to be aware of the Columbus Day holiday Monday, however, is so we won't be wondering what time the postman is coming. And with a long weekend accumulation of mail to be handled, he or she might be a little late on the Tuesday rounds.
Some people don't particularly like to observe a holiday called Columbus Day anyway, judging by a report from Lawrence, Kan.
That is the home of the Haskell Indian Nations University. Students there are leading a movement to rename the holiday Indigenous Peoples Day. They plan to march and demonstrate Monday to promote their case.
A lot of Americans still think fondly of Columbus as the man who discovered their country and opened the way for its eventual development into the greatest and most powerful nation the world has known. Many will remember him on Oct. 12.
As for the Columbus Day holiday itself in its present format, there likely are other more widely noted events this month. Even Halloween, although not a holiday for anybody as far as we know, appears to be more widely recognized.
In Tyler and East Texas, the month's feature event is the Texas Rose Festival, scheduled for its 74th presentation Oct. 18-21 this year. Since its beginning in 1933, the festival has developed and grown in size and participation, drawing visitors from throughout the state and beyond.
Another traditional event hasn't been going quite as long, but it also attracts visitors.
It is the East Texas Historical Fire Society's 22nd Annual Muster, billed as a family event, centered on the fire service. This year's big day is Saturday, Oct. 27.
Early registration, refreshments and fellowship will be held the enjoyed of Oct. 26 at Central Station South.
The muster again will be held at the Brookshire Lake Palestine campgrounds. Features include a fire equipment and memorabilia swap meet, fire apparatus judging in several categories, demonstrations and clinics, said David Crim, a Society spokesperson.
Book Recommendation
Texas Rangers, the original Old West version, often have been the subject of books, but Pat Goodrich, a writer who lives at Pinehurst, claims to have found one never written about before.
"Ransom, Texas Ranger, An American Hero," is the book Goodrich has produced inspired by a man never written about, who lived in the fast lane during an earlier era when the adjutant generals were in charge. Also, check the index for one in your family tree."
"One of our great captains," the author says of the book's subject. Ransom twice volunteered in the Spanish-American War, first joined the Texas Rangers in 1905, and was a special detective in Houston and later Houston's Chief of Police.
Two other times he served as a company captain in the Texas Rangers, and was killed while on duty in 1918 at age 44.
Something to watch for later, Goodrich said, is a movie by the author based on the book. The film script won first place in the biographical category of an international filmfest over 6,000 film entries and scripts from 34 countries.
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