I ain't cutting nobody no slack when it comes to God's authority over his religion. Washington was wrong to sign that Proclamation in 1789 and I ain't only one saying it.
The reason Washington never issued another one proves that he saw the light and mended his wicked ways. It came about most likely becase Madison, Jefferson and Saint George Tucker kicked his ass and told him to straighten up and fly right.
How do you explain why Washington didn't issue a recommendation of thanksgiving in each of the next seven years. Did he believe in prayer only once every eight years? Maybe we should celebrate Thanksgiving Day only once every eight years.
I advance the bold proposition that Washington did not change his mind on whether men should give thanks to the Almighty - He only changed his mind regarding who was supposed to tell men what their religious duties were.
Giving authority over and acknowledging it are two different things. Nobody wants laws that mandate religion, but you seem to take the extreme position that any acknowledgement is somehow coercion. Besides, coming from someone who comes across as an atheist or at the least extremely legalistic, I don't put a lot of sincerity in your concern about protecting religion. You pretent to want to protect religion, but what you advocate is taking any hint of religion out of the public forum.
You call people 'non-Christian' at the drop of the hat, but nothing indicates you believe in Jesus as the Messiah. You apparently worship at the alter of your legalistic views.