Oklahoma George Washington Wired

The fifth grade classes of Chelsea, Oklahoma visited with the George Washington Ambassador on Wednesday.   The students’ teacher, Mr. Battles, had the small portrait of George Washington (that I had given him last fall) matted and framed and resting on a table easel.  As the students entered the room they gathered around the portrait and enthusiastically discussed our first President.  The school’s principal came in to listen to the presentation about the general.  I explained to her about the large, framed “painting” of Washington that any principal can request for their school.  She was so excited (and so was Mr. Battles) that I am sure the Chelsea “Green Dragons” will soon have a new iconic artwork in their hallways!

The George Washington Ambassador visited Mrs. Brown’s Class at Grissom Elementary this week.  This is a picture of Mrs. Brown, one of her classes, and, of course, the President!

The George Washington Ambassador visited Mrs. Potter’s students at Fisher Elementary.  The class is shown gathered around the portrait of our first President.  Any school that is interested in receiving one of these beautiful paintings needs to contact George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens.  The information is on their website.

Peters Elementary fifth grade students learned about George Washington and his famous teeth.  Three students tried (unsuccessfully) to crack some walnuts like our first President.  Some girls tried to simulate his “dentures.”  It made their mouths look a little distorted, too.  While Washington’s teeth were made of lead, pulled teeth, and animal teeth, the girls just used plastic ones!  All of the students sang and danced to a song about the Revolution, “U. S. of A.” 

      Washington looked forward to his private life under his “vine and fig tree” at Mount Vernon when he retired from the presidency.  Unfortunately, a quiet existence would not be the case.  “He once wrote, ‘I am alone at present… Unless someone pops in, unexpectedly—Mrs. Washington and myself will do what I believe has not been done within the last twenty year by us—that is to set down to dinner by ourselves.’ Washington never knew when he came in from his afternoon inspection of the farms what company would share his table.  Often there were strangers who ‘come as they say, out of respect to me (pg. 714 Freeman).’” 

      As I have traveled throughout Oklahoma I have often thought about Washington’s visitors.  These “strangers” were always extended kindhearted hospitality by the General and Martha.  Oklahomans have them same type of considerate generosity.  Last week I was driving to Hominy in the icebox-like weather the state is experiencing.  I stopped at a store to get a cup, lid, and some hot water for my tea bag.  When I tried to pay at the counter, the cashier smiled and said, “No charge, keep warm, and have a great day!”   It made my day!  It is great to know that, like Washington, Okies are generous, friendly people. 

Hominy students "rock out" about Washington

Anderson students "go nuts" over Washington

The floor was littered with torn wrapping paper and bows at our home Christmas morning (We survived the Christmas Eve blizzard even though the electricity went off for about four hours.).  Everyone had gathered around the Christmas tree to watch my three-year old granddaughter tear into all the presents.  She has asked Santa for a baby doll and baby doll clothes—-and she received both; BUT Addison’s favorite gift was (What else?) an umbrella decorated with scenes of MOUNT VERNON!  The parasol came with markers to “color in” the designs.  Although “keeping in the lines” is not yet one of her aspirations, I can tell she has great artistic potential (spoken like a true grandma!).  The holiday break taught me that Mount Vernon is a favorite for all our family—young and old!

In November I visited the National Cathedral.  It is a phenomenal structure with a Darth Vader  carved grotesque, a stained glass window that contains a moon rock, and, of course, a statue of our first President.  George Washington was a life-long member of the Anglican/Episcopal Church.  Although he never traveled to Europe to see their Gothic Cathedrals, I think the General would have been awed by the structure built by his denomination today.  The National Cathedral is “a great and beautiful edifice in the city of Washington, an indispensable ministry for people of all faiths and perspectives, and a sacred place for our country in times of celebration, crisis, and sorrow.   Although it was not until 1907 that the corner stone of the Church was laid, Pierre L’Enfant, the gentleman commissioned by President Washington to create a plan for the nation’s capital, had imagined ‘a great church for national purposes.’ The building of the place of worship took 83 years!  Washington National Cathedral is the sixth largest cathedral in the world.”* Anyone who walks into the Cathedral cannot help but be moved by the serenity and harmony that surrounds you.  This idea was also expressed by George Washington:

“Peace with all the world is my sincere wish.”

                                                                                                                                                                                   . . . and mine, too.

Have a wonderful Holiday Season!

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• All information about the National Cathedral came from their web site http://www.nationalcathedral.org but the photos are mine.