Happy Washington's Birthday!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Washington’s Monument, February 1885
By Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

Ah, not this marble, dead and cold:
Far from its base and shaft expanding–the round zones circling, comprehending,
Thou, Washington, art all the world’s, the continents’ entire–not yours alone, America,
Europe’s as well, in every part, castle of lord or laborer’s cot,
Or frozen North, or sultry South–the African’s–the Arab’s in his tent,
Old Asia’s there with venerable smile, seated amid her ruins;
(Greets the antique the hero new? ‘tis but the same–the heir
legitimate, continued ever,
The indomitable heart and arm–proofs of the never-broken line,
Courage, alertness, patience, faith, the same–e’en in defeat
defeated not, the same)
Wherever sails a ship, or house is built on land, or day or night,
Through teeming cities’ streets, indoors or out, factories or farms,
Now, or to come, or past–where patriot wills existed or exist,
Wherever Freedom, pois’d by Toleration, sway’d by Law,
Stands or is rising thy true monument.

2

“Every post is honorable in which a man can serve his country.” - Letter to Benedict Arnold, 1775

“The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them. The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die.” - Address to the Continental Army, 1776

“Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.” - Letter to Maj. Gen. Robert Howe, 1779

“If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.” - King George III, upon hearing from painter Benjamin West of Washington’s impending resignation from the Continental Army, 1783

“The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the republican model of government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.” - First Inaugural Address, 1789

“He is polite with dignity, affable without formality, distant without haughtiness, grave without austerity; modest, wise and good.” – Abigail Adams, 1789

“It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.” - To the elders of Touro Synagogue, Newport, R.I., 1790

“First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” - Eulogy by Henry Lee, 1799

“George Washington is one of the beacons placed at intervals along the highroad of history. For his country he serves as a guide in time of stress and a refuge in tranquil moments; a never-failing example of true goodness; a warning to turbulent youth and a mute accusation of selfish interests.” - Orestes Ferrara, 1932

3

:: raises a cherry tree in toast ::

4

Bumped, with best wishes to all.

5

Fred Astaire sings “I Can’t Tell A Lie” (the Washington Birthday song) from Holiday Inn.

6

Nice! Never heard that before.