My favorite George Washington story

Since I was a child, George Washington has always been my hero. He led an army to victory over the most powerful army in the world and then set the greatest nation on earth on it’s path to bring peoples’ government to the world. But I think my favorite story about him is this one;

Once the army was in mutiny, not against George Washington but against the Congress that had not paid the soldiers in months. The troops on their march against the Congress, were met by officers who promised a meeting the next day at 10:00 AM with the commanding general. Spirits were high and not friendly. Few thought that Washington would brave a confrontation with the mutinous troops. Indeed, the clock was about to strike 10:00 AM and there was no general in sight. Only seconds before the clock struck, the meeting house door slammed opened and George Washington briskly marched in. What followed was to me one of the most extraordinary speeches in history. General Washington in no way began in a conciliatory fashion. He was the general. He told the troops that the meeting would be held with full military discipline. The speech continued for some time when he picked up a letter with the troops demands. He squinted at the letter, then fumbled for his glasses and said that not only had he grown gray in the service of his country, but his eyes now needed glasses. The troops had never seen his glasses. He called to one veteran, and remembered an incident during a battle. He recognized another veteran, and briefly spoke to him. Was he not with them at all times especially the worst of times? When they were cold at Valley Forge, he was cold. When they were not paid, he was not paid. When they were hungry, he was hungry. When the battle was the worst he had been on the front line. He began to read the demands with some difficulty. The soldiers were embarrassed for, and saddened by their commander’s eyesight and difficulty. The eyes of many of the battle veterans began to water, and they stopped the general; apologized to him, and asked if he would take their grievances to the Congress. George Washington was in the hearts of his soldiers.

How many politicians today could resist riding at the head of the only armed force on the continent to seize the reins of a weak government? I can think of only a few who would have chosen the course George Washington took.

It was just a few years ago that I finally got to live my childhood dream and tour Mount Vernon and walk in the steps of our most important founding father. I get misty when I follow him down the back stairs from his bedroom to his study that he walked in the early morning darkness preparing for his day as a farmer. A farmer who rejected the opportunity to be King.

But the most important object to me in the entire house is in the front entrance.

On the wall is a simple iron key;

 

 Actually, it’s the key to the Bastille presented to Washington by General Lafayette. To me it’s a reminder that not only should Washington get credit for establishing this nation as a free nation, but he’s also responsible for every nation on earth that calls themselves a democracy.  

And today is his birthday - please remember him, because I’m fairly sure he was thinking of you.

Category: Historical