MARYLAND'S NICKNAMES

Maryland is known as both the Old Line State and
the Free State.

Old Line State. According to some historians, Gen.
George Washington bestowed the name "Old Line
State" and thereby associated Maryland with its
regular line troops, the Maryland Line, who served
courageously in many Revolutionary War battles.

Free State. The nickname "Free State" was created
by Hamilton Owens, editor of the Baltimore Sun.
In 1923, Georgia Congressman William D. Up-
shaw, a firm supporter of Prohibition, denounced
Maryland as a traitor to the Union for refusing to
pass a State enforcement act. Mr. Owens thereupon
wrote a mock-serious editorial entitled "The Mary-
land Free State," arguing that Maryland should
secede from the Union rather than prohibit the sale
of liquor. The irony in the editorial was subtle, and
Mr. Owens decided not to print it. However, he
popularized the nickname in later editorials.

POET LAUREATE OF MARYLAND

Linda Pastan, 1991—

In the 18th century, Ebenezer Cook, author of The
Sot-weed Factor: Or, A Voyage to Maryland (1708),
styled himself Poet Laureate. Maryland did not have
an official poet, however, until 1959. In that year, the
General Assembly authorized the Governor to ap-
point a citizen of the State as Poet Laureate of Mary-
land (Chapter 178, Acts of 1959; Code State
Government Article, sec. 13-306). Since 1979, the
incumbent has been appointed to a three-year term.

Maryland Manual 1994-1995

STATE THEATERS

In 1978, Center Stage in Baltimore was designated
the State Theater of Maryland (Chapter 1003, Acts
of 1978). By the same act Olney Theatre in
Montgomery County was named the State Summer
Theater of Maryland (Code State Government Ar-
ticle, sec. 13-309).

LEGAL HOLIDAYS

January 1................... New Year's Day
January 15 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
February 12............... Lincoln's Birthday
February, 3rd Monday.... Washington's Birthday
March 25 .................... Maryland Day
Friday before Easter ............ Good Friday
May 30 ..................... Memorial Day*
July 4.................... Independence Day
September, 1st Monday. ........... Labor Day
September 12 ............... Defenders' Day
October 12 ................. Columbus Day*
November 11 ................. Veterans' Day
November, 4th Thursday .... Thanksgiving Day
December 25................. Christmas Day

Each statewide general election day.

Each other day that the President of the United
States or the Governor designates for general ces-
sation of business.

If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday shall be
observed on the next Monday after that date.