President George Washington

                It is that time of year once again when we remember the birthday of the first President of the United States.  George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, into a wealthy planter family in Westmoreland, Virginia.  His family owned tobacco plantations and slaves.  After the early deaths of his father and older brother, he inherited Mount Vernon.

George Washington became a great man and one of our Founding Fathers.  He was commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.   He presided over the Constitutional Convention and was a participant in drafting the Constitution of the United States of America. 

Under the new Constitution, George Washington was the unanimous choice to serve as the first President of the brand new country.  He served two terms as President and was instrumented in creating a strong, well-financed national government.  Under his leadership, the fledgling country “maintained neutrality in the wars raging in Europe, suppressed rebellion, and won acceptance among Americans of all types.”

                President Washington was well aware that he was setting precedents that would be followed by successive administrations, and he desired to set good precedents.  He used his leadership to establish “many forms and rituals of government” still in use today, such as the cabinet system and an inaugural address.  He also established the tradition of peaceful transitions from one administration to another.  He truly is the “father” of our country.

                George Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis.  George and Martha did not have children together, but he became a father to her two children.  He died on December 14, 1799, at Mount Vernon, Virginia, at age 67.  His body was laid to rest in the Washington family tomb at Mount Vernon.  He freed all his slaves in his final will.

                President Washington was hailed at the time of his death as “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.”  He is consistently named as one of the top three Presidents of our nation.  He was a great man and deserves to be honored as our first President.  Please join me in celebrating the birthday of President George Washington – 281 years after his birth.

President Washington was not only great, but he was also wise as shown by the following quotes.    

                “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.”

                “Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the people’s liberty’s teeth.”

                “Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.”

                “If the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”

                “Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force.  Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.”