While most Americans celebrated President’s Day earlier this week, the real President’s Days in my youth were celebrated on February 12th (Lincoln’s Birthday) and February 22, (Washington’s Birthday). We honored these men who were recognized as the most revered presidents in our history.
George Washington was especially revered as the “father of our country” because he was not only our first president, he was the one who set the tone for our democracy. He voluntarily set aside his own military power to ensure that civil authority, not military might, would rule the young country. King George III of England reportedly said “If it is true that this man willingly handed over his sword and military might, he will be the greatest man in the world.”
When those same Continental Army soldiers were ready to rebel against a Continental Congress that had not paid them, Washington averted a military march on Philadelphia that would have meant chaos for the fledging country. He addressed those soldiers in the Newburgh Address to quell their anger, and remind them that they had fought for a cause larger than themselves. Further, at the end of the address, he gave a physical reminder to them that he too had paid a very high price for his service, and shamed many who saw the great selfless service he had given. Here is a brief synopsis of that scenario…
On March 15, 1783, Washington delivered his Newburgh Address to the senior officers of the Continental Army. The speech contained important themes that would later reemerge in the Washington presidency – national duty, the submission of military to civil authority, and the importance of dispassionate and good faith debate. He reminded them of their duty to the American Republic and of his own personal sacrifices for the nation. “A grateful sense of the confidence you have ever placed in me—a recollection of the cheerful assistance, prompt obedience I have experienced from you, … and the sincere affection I feel for an army I have so long had the honor to command, will oblige me to declare… the great duty I owe my Country, and those powers we are bound to respect.”
At the end of his speech, Washington reached into his pocket and put on a pair of spectacles to read a letter from Congress. “Gentlemen,” he said softly, “You will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country.”
According to later accounts, many of the soldiers who heard the speech were moved to tears. As one veteran of the war recalled, “I have ever considered that the United States are indebted for their republican form of government solely to the firm and determined republicanism of George Washington at this time.”
So, we see what real leadership looks like in a time of crisis -personal sacrifice for a cause larger than ourselves.
Prayer: Lord, that we would again have such leadership for our country, Amen
Reflections of a Counselor 