[Audio
Book on CD]
February is the month of two holidays, Valentine’s Day and President’s
Day. The third Monday in February is a day to commemorate two presidents
who were both born in February. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12
and George Washington was born on February 22.
.
When most people think about George Washington two thoughts come to
mind. One is the story of how he chopped down a cherry tree and later
confessed, “Father, I cannot tell a lie”. This story is considered to be
a fable. The second thought which is far more significant and is true is
that Washington was our nation’s first president and had a major role is
securing our country’s freedom.
.
.
A new biography has been written about George Washington. It is called
His Excellency and was written by Joseph J. Ellis who is a Pulitzer
Prize-winning author.
.
.
Washington was born in 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia, near the
Potomac River. His family had originally come from England in 1657.
Washington’s family was not wealthy but were considered to be respectable.
.
.
Washington’s father died in 1743 leaving young George fatherless.
Fortunately his older brother Lawrence became a surrogate father and
became a guide in encouraging his younger brother. At age 16 Washington
began work with a surveying expedition in the Shenandoah Valley.
.
.
In 1752 Washington applied for an adjutant-general post in the Virginia
militia and eventually led expeditions into the Ohio Country. During
this time he learned the life of soldiering and formed the foundation of
his beliefs in dealing with others.
.
.
Washington married Martha Custis, a wealthy widow with two children, in
1959 and moved to her mansion which was called Mount Vernon. As time
passed, Washington became increasingly involved in the struggle the
colonies faced with Great Britain and was a major force in the time
leading to the Revolutionary War.
.
.
Washington’s role in our nation’s quest for freedom is explained in
great detail in His Excellency. Ellis portrays Washington as a person of
great integrity whose influence helped our nation is become the great
country known as the United States.
.
.