January 27 – This week, we heard the president deliver his State of the Union address.

The State of the Union address gives the president the opportunity to report on the condition of the nation and allows him to outline his legislative agenda and his national priorities for the future.

Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution requires that the president make this report:

“He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient….”

Traditionally, the president makes this report annually. It is not required to be given as a speech. George Washington gave the first State of the Union address on Jan. 8, 1790, in New York City, then the provisional U. S. capital. In 1801, Thomas Jefferson discontinued the practice of delivering the address in person. Instead, the address was written and sent to Congress to be delivered by a clerk.

It continued as a written report until 1913 when President Woodrow Wilson re-established the practice of delivering the State of the Union as a personal address to a joint session of Congress and the people of the United States of America. It is held in the House of Representatives chamber of the United States Capitol.

There is no specific date for the State of the Union address, however, it is generally given in late January or early February.

Calvin Coolidge's 1923 address was the first to be broadcast on radio. Harry S. Truman's 1947 address was the first to be broadcast on television. Initially the address was given during the day. Lyndon B. Johnson's 1965 address was the first delivered in the evening thus giving more people the opportunity to hear it.

Ronald Reagan planned to give his address on Jan. 28, 1986, but after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, postponed it for a week and addressed the nation on the day's events. This was the only time that the State of the Union address had to be postponed. Bill Clinton's 1997 address was the first broadcast available live on the World Wide Web.

State of the Union addresses usually last about an hour giving the president the opportunity to highlight the administration's accomplishments over the previous year, as well as an upbeat, optimistic agenda for the coming year. Since 1982, it has become common for the President to honor special guests sitting in the gallery.

Friends And Neighbors

Congratulations to Jeremy and Tracy Harris, of Floyd, on the birth of twin boys on January 1. Axel Zion and Canaan Nash join their siblings, Sydney Reed, Hanson, and Asher. Congratulations also to proud grandparents, Harold and Gayle Harris.

Congratulations to proud grandparents, Bob and Cathy Bissett and great-grandparents, John and Marolyn Lavra, on the birth of a little boy on Jan. 5 in Chesapeake.

For several days in mid-January, Billy and Joyce Slayton hosted visitors Richard and Lynn DeLeo from California. They had a wonderful visit and the visitors from California really enjoyed the ice and snow because they never have any at their home in California.

The Abilene Homemakers Club met at the home of Madeline Slaydon Jan. 18. They enjoyed several games of Bingo while enjoying a wonderful hot soup lunch prepared by Madeline. Nancy Nelson brought a delicious chocolate cake. We discussed plans for the quilt we will make for this year's quilt raffle. The next meeting of the Abilene Homemakers Club will be on Tueday, Feb. 15, at 1 p.m. at the Abilene Community Center. Inspired by Madeline's delicious soup, we are going to have a “soup tasting” – everyone will bring their special soup and also the recipe. The program will be starting to work on the raffle quilt. Visitors, guests, and new members are always welcome.

As part of the Abilene Homemakers Club community outreach, on Dec. 20, I delivered 50 pocket hearts to the Kids Haven Hearts grief counseling program in Lynchburg.

The Abilene Community Club will hold a planning meeting at 7 p.m. on Jan. 29, at the Abilene Community Center. This meeting is open to the public and we encourage everyone in the community to come and learn more about what the Abilene Community Club is all about.

The Cardinal Quilt Guild of Prince Edward will hold their regular monthly meeting on Tueday, Feb. 1, at 10 a.m. at the Douglas Presbyterian Church. We will continue to work on quilts for the children at the Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Plantation. Visitors, guests, and new members are welcome to attend. You do not have to be an expert quilter to enjoy this group.

Happy Birthday wishes are extended to Marolyn Lavra who will be celebrating on Feb. 2. Congratulations Marolyn!

If you have any news or announcements that you would like to share, please call me at 223-2271 or e-mail me at kz5ro@kinex.net.