By Ambassador Callista L. Gingrich
February 22 marks the 282nd anniversary of the beginning of a remarkable life – the birth of a man who himself gave life to a new era in world history.
As commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and later as the first president of the United States, George Washington, more than any other single person, created the nation we love today. He was, as one historian termed him, the indispensable man.
First as an officer in the Virginia militia, then as a member of the House of Burgesses, as a delegate to the Continental Congresses, as the key figure of the Revolution, as president of the Constitutional Convention, and finally as President of the United States, Washington was the consummate citizen. He devoted his life to serving America, even before it was an independent country.
Often this dedication came at great personal sacrifice. During the American Revolution, Washington was away from his home, Mount Vernon, for eight difficult years. Many times, the cause surely seemed lost – an outcome which would likely have led to his imprisonment or even hanging. It’s easy to forget that Washington and other leaders of the Revolution risked everything, including life, family, and fortune, to win our independence.
Why did he do it? The answer can be found in our Declaration of Independence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident,” it read in part, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
These were the bold ideas for which Washington and other Patriots fought, and they are the principles that continue to define our nation. They are at the heart of what has made America exceptional.
Read more at Real Clear History