February 22, 2011: The 279th Anniversary of Washington’s Birth
George Washington was born in Virginia on February 22, 1732, which makes this the 279th anniversary of his birth. As the Father of Our Country, Washington deserves to have his birthday set aside as a special day for all freedom loving Americans to celebrate and to reflect on the tremendous impact this man had not only on this country, but the entire world.
Washington was a surveyor, soldier and planter who went on to become the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, which he led to victory over the British in the Revolutionary War. He presided over the writing of the U.S. Constitution in 1887 and served as the young nation’s first president from 1789 to 1797. George Washington was married to Martha Custis in 1759, a successful union that lasted 42 years until his death in 1799 at the age of 67. Their home at Mount Vernon has been preserved for posterity and has been maintained without government support by the Mount Vernon Ladies’Association since 1858.
Sadly, students in public schools today are not given the same opportunity to learn about George Washington as children were in years past. Instead, they are subjected to ‘the new curriculum’ with a political agenda and a liberal focus. At one time, portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were displayed in every classroom in the country. These have now largely been replaced by posters of Che Guevara, Malcolm X and similar characters revered by the liberals who have taken over our public schools. School textbooks now barely provide 10 percent of the coverage that was given to Washington’s life and his many contributions to our nation just a few short years ago.
We must make it a point to keep the history alive and pass on to future generations information about the incredible nature of George Washington’s courage and character, as well as the incalculable contributions he made to our country and our way of life. Make it a point to visit your local public schools and inspect the classrooms. As a taxpaying citizen, it is your right to do so. Ask the teachers and principals why the portraits of Lincoln and Washington are no longer displayed. Check out the curriculum of your child’s class and ask for more coverage of great Americans like George Washington if you deem it insufficient. You can make a difference by getting involved in your local public schools and by supporting the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association!
Visit the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association at the following link:
http://www.mountvernon.org/