Happy National Freedom Day!

Now, you may think that I’m making up a holiday but I’m not.  National Freedom Day has been observed annually on February 1st ever since 1949.  That’s because February 1st is also the anniversary of the day, in 1865, that Abraham Lincoln signed the joint Senate and House resolution calling for a 13th amendment, one that would abolish slavery.  Lincoln did not live to see that amendment ratified on December 6th and officially adopted to the Constitution on December 18th of the same year.

So, in honor of National Freedom Day, here’s Ray Charles singing America The Beautiful on a 1972 episode of the Dick Cavett Show.  Enjoy!