The President’s Day holiday puts us in mind of those great leaders who governed throughout our country’s tumultuous history: The American Revolution, the Civil War, two world wars, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights movement, Vietnam, and so on.

Greatness was thrust upon certain holders of that office by events that shaped their legacies, while others are relegated to general obscurity due to a lack of conflict and controversy during their times in office. Each one’s tenure in office should be regarded as equally important. In as much as big events could have elevated their place in history at a moment’s notice.

The man or woman who assumes the role of Commander and Chief of our nation must be ready willing and able to rise to the occasion when called upon to do so. Each one of us, whoever we may have supported in the past, has searched our hearts to determine who we feel will best fill those shoes every time we vote.

Most of us are confident that our favored candidate will be up to the task. Others see a lack of integrity or the skills required to do the job well among those who choose to run.

Let us hope that each holder of the office in the future will rise to the occasion and realize the potential they may have to become as great as the others who have gone before them. The right choices will be as important in the future as in any other time in our nation’s history.

It’s not an easy job, as everyone must surely realize. Let us on this day honor those who step up to that challenge.