Thoughts about the Weekend

Posted on February 19, 2022 by vanbraman

This weekend is a time when we think about our Presidents. However, by law there is technically only one President that is honored on what is often referred to as President’s Day. The observance Monday is officially still known as Washington’s Birthday in most of the country.

Click on President’s, Presidents’ or Presidents to see what I wrote years ago concerning what the day is known as. George Washington, Washington's Birthday, Presidents' Day, HolidayHere is a collage of images from the life of George Washington.

Frank Andrea Miller Cartoon - General George Washington - Washington's Birthday - Valley ForgeMy family has an interesting connection to George Washington. One of my ancestors served with George Washington in the vestry of the Truro Parish church in Virginia.

See: Serving with Washington and They Lived Near: George Washington

Presidents Washington and Lincoln - Presidents' Day - Marx Presidential FigurinesLincoln’s Birthday was observed last Monday so I am OK with this weekend being called President’s Day Weekend as it occurs between the two observances.

See also this link for a connection to Lincoln: They Lived Near: Abraham Lincoln

Marx President Figurines - Washington to Johnson - President's Day - Figurines - Grocery PromotionThere are of course a lot of other Presidents for us to remember. Some of them we remember well and know a lot about and others are more obscure.

One of my future reading challenges may be to read a biography of each of the Presidents. I have been thinking about the parameters of the challenge for quire some time, but have never started it. Here are some of the possible parameters:

  • Read in order of when they served
  • Pulitzer for Biography winner if possible
  • One that I haven’t read before
  • Scholarly and not popular if possible
  • Balanced and not skewed to left or right (especially for last 50 years)

Ancestors of American Presidents by Gary Boyd Roberts - Harrison Ancestry - Pawn StarsI am also distantly related to some of the Presidents, but most of the common ancestors are back in the 1600 or 1700’s. I want to learn more about some of these shared ancestors.

Take some time this weekend to remember our Presidents.

Steven

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Remembering Washington this Weekend

Posted on February 18, 2022 by vanbraman

With Washington’s Birthday coming up on Monday, I will be thinking about him this weekend.

Presidents Washington and Lincoln - Presidents' Day - Marx Presidential Figurines

Washington is one of my two favorite Presidents, and the two figures above sit in front of my computer screen where I see them each day.

February 22 is the actual birthday of George Washington. However, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 set the celebration of Washington’s Birthday on a Monday each year. Abraham Lincoln’s birthday was on February 12 and is also observed in some places on the Monday before Washington’s Birthday.

We remember George Washington for two major roles that he performed in our country. First, that of President Washington, but also he is well remembered as General Washington.

While looking through my Grandma’s scrapbooks I came across a Frank Andrea Miller cartoon that asks a very interesting question about General Washington. This is from a 1961 scrapbook.

Frank Andrea Miller Cartoon - General George Washington - Washington's Birthday - Valley Forge Would You Have Served Under Washington?

When we look back at history we can see how bad the conditions were when the troops wintered at Valley Forge. Would we serve under Washington and endure the hardships that his troops did? In our world today we live in luxury compared to the colonial times. It would be hard to make a comparison. We do know that his troops trusted him and they gave their all for our country as they helped gain our independence from England.

George Washington, Vestryman, Truro ParishMy 7th Great Grandfather Lewis Ellzey served with George Washington as a vestryman in Truro Parrish. Although they were not in the Colonial Army together they served together in their local church.

See: Serving with Washington and They Lived Near: George Washington

I also came across another interesting clipping about George Washington.

George Washington's Farewell Prayer to his troops - 1783 - Washington's Birthday - On Disbanding an ArmyThis is George Washington’s farewell prayer to his troops in 1783.

I found a slightly longer version of this prayer than what is shown in the clipping above, so have posted it here.

Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy Holy protection; and Thou wilt incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field.

And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the Characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

What a great prayer for our country.

Would you have served under General George Washington?

Steven

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