George Washington has been called, “first in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen.” He is remembered for his character, perseverance, and faith and is an example for future leaders.
From the first outing as a young militia colonel, when he fired on the French, sparking a worldwide war, to the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Washington became the most respected leader in American military history.
His genius lay not only in becoming “The Father of Our Country,” but also in building the army that made our independence possible. Literally within sight of the enemy, this largely self taught, non-professional soldier developed the foundational principles upon which our own modern army is built. These lessons did not come easy. For every victory at Boston, there was a defeat on Long Island. For every brilliant tactical move like Trenton, there was a disaster like Brandywine. In the midst of both failures and success, he earned and maintained the devotion of his troops.
