Although recounting all the reasons we should celebrate Washington would take several books, one striking instance was a battle early in his career. On July 9, 1755, he was accompanying British General Braddock and his expeditionary forces, and they were ambushed by French and Indian troops. Braddock did not survive the encounter, and many other British officers were slain. Washington gained famed for establishing an orderly retreat and preventing the potential annihilation of the entire force. He wrote to Governor Dinwiddle that "I luckily escap'd with't a wound, tho's I had four Bullets through my Coat and two horses shot under me." He explained to his relative Augustine Washington, that he survived by "the miraculous care of Providence, that protected me beyond all human expectation."
The courage Washington mustered in that encountered presaged his entire life. Time after time he stood up to hostile forces which were expected to defeat him, albeit a rain of bullets or political challenges, and prevailed. America owes her independence, and freedom, to Washington's tremendous courage - and the miraculous care of Providence that protected him.
Although generally recognized by the culture as "Presidents' Day," the actual federal holiday (if you noticed it) today is Washington's birthday. It has been destroyed by fixing the holiday to a Monday, as opposed to Washington's true birthday of February 22. There was a reason that Washington received his own holiday, and its time we remember it.
For more on Washington and other great patriots, visit PatriotWeek.org and AmericasSurvivalGuide.com.
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