(cont'd from yesterday's post)
Today is George Washington Day in the state of Virginia, a holiday they established for his birthday. You may have heard what he was called by the people of his time: "the father of his country." The people of his own time described him that way, not just modern historians.
Many "founding fathers" contributed to America's founding, but he was considered to be the indispensable figure.
Before he became the first president, the General was commander-in-chief of colonial forces in the Revolutionary War (1775-1783). Most of his troops had no training and their enemy was the premier military power of the world. Victories were few, hardships were abundant.
On the miserable Christmas Day of 1776, they were camped at Valley Forge PA. They broke camp and crossed the ice-choked Delaware River over night (losing not one man), and marched (some of them without shoes) several miles. The ensuing battle against Hessian mercenaries was one inspiring victory, and helped Washington hang on to his suffering, discouraged army.
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