Washington in the West Wing
Recently I traveled to two elementary schools in Tulsa to officially present their George Washington portraits. The first place I stopped was at Kendall-Whittier Elementary. I was met by a beautiful smiling student named, “Bonnie.” She introduced herself with a firm handshake and guided me through the maze of hallways. The George Washington artwork was (Where else?) in the WEST Wing! Dessa Weber’s 5th grade classroom crowded in with co-teacher Vanessa Brown, Vice Principal Chloe Brown, and Paul Thomas, Director of Public Operations, for this picture for posterity. After I returned home and downloaded the image, I noticed the word, “Peace” on the wall near Washington’s likeness. How appropriate! Many people think of Washington as a man of war (Revolutionary, that is) but I believe he was truly a man of peace. As the French Revolution raged and England became involved, Thomas Jefferson and many Americans were thrilled when Citizen Genet, a French official, landed in Charleston and attempted to win Americans to the French Republic‘s side in their war with Britain. Hamilton and those who desired to trade with our recently departed mother country wanted to join with Britain in attacking those Parisian patriots. Washington, ever the wise statesman, knew that America needed a few generations of peace in order to establish our country’s stability. The first president issued a Proclamation of Neutrality. Even when his favorite Frenchman, Lafayette, was imprisoned by the Austrians, he refused to use his influence to help free this Revolutionary hero—a move that might look like he was taking sides. Washington’s goals were a UNITED States and a healthy republic. In order to achieve those objectives he knew that tranquility was the key. Seeing the “Peace” sign next to Washington’s artwork at Kendall-Whittier reminded me of his conscientious effort toward that purpose.
After leaving Kendall-Whittier, I traveled WEST across Tulsa to Mark Twain Elementary. Beth Howard, one of the 2009 George Washington Summer Institute attendees, and the school’s Principal, Diane Hensley, met me in the front hallway by Washington’s artwork. Beth is an outstanding art teacher and her students’ drawings of the visage of our first president surrounded the Peale Porthole Portrait. After a quick snapshot, I went into Mark Twain’s gym to talk to five classes about Washington’s role in the first war in our WEST, the French and Indian War, and also the Revolution.
I took one other photograph that day—back a Kendall-Whittier. As I was visiting with Mrs. Weber’s students they noticed my George Washington KEDS. One pupil, Damon Dodd, shyly shared his sneakers with me—a pair of Barack Obama tennis shoes! Another child quipped, “Look, it’s the first and present presidents!” I could not resist taking a shot of this pair of famous footwear!
At the end of the day I headed into the sunset…WEST, of course!
