Our Great American
Hero - George Washington

George Washington was history's indispensable man. Without his leadership, we would not have a United States of America. The sheer power of his character and personality made him the acknowledged leader among the extra-ordinary men of intellect and vision whom we call the Founding Fathers.

We live in a strange time when some history textbooks downgrade Washington's great achieve-ments and character. The National Standards for United States History, released in 1995, omitted or debunked many of our country's heroes while teaching school-children about obscure individuals deemed more Politically Correct. Little or nothing was suggested to be taught about Washington's extraordinary leadership, military skill, presidency of the Constitutional Convention, or service as our first President.

Schoolchildren are no longer taught the famous story about the bulletproof George Washington, which used to be included in most history textbooks. Washington was a 26-year-old officer fighting the battle of Monongahela on July 9, 1755 when the colonial troops were ambushed by the French and Indians who fired from behind trees instead of on a open field as the English commander, General Braddock, was convinced that wars should be fought. Braddock was killed, and 977 out of 1,459 of his men were killed or badly wounded, including 63 of 86 British and American officers. Washington's majestic bearing in the saddle made him an easy mark for hidden riflemen, but they could not kill him.

After Washington led the survivors in retreat, he wrote to his brother: "By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me."

Washington is the hero we need today because he was a President whose character was above reproach. In Daniel Webster's words: "America has furnished to the world the character of Washington, and if our American institutions had done nothing else, that alone would have entitled them to the respect of mankind."

You can do your part to restore George Washington to his proper place in history by checking the history books in your local schools to see if they tell the truth about his greatness.

You can also do your part by helping to restore Washington's Birthday as the name of our February national holiday. In 1968, Congress enacted the Mon-day Holiday Law. Its sole pur-pose was to guarantee Americans five three-day weekends. The law provided that Washington's Birthday, which had always been celebrated on February 22, should henceforth be changed to a holiday on the third Monday in February. Federal law states that the third Monday in February is "Washington's Birthday."

Most calendars label the third Monday in February as "Presidents Day." This is not accurate, and it is offensive because there are some Presidents who don't deserve to be honored.

You can do your part to maintain George Washington's standing as our greatest American hero by buying only calendars that identify the third Monday of February by its proper legal name: George Washington's Birthday.