This miniature of the house would move to showcase different parts of the house. It was set on a timer which really caused some initial confusion as people approached it and it all of a sudden moved.
The Washington family. George and Martha didn't have any children together. He was the stepfather of her children. She was a widow.
Stain glass window displaying various stages and accomplishments of Washington's life. What an amazing and incredible man!
Reading the quotes from him, I so wish we had another Washington to run for President again.
I also wondered what he would think of life today and the political scene. I can't help but think that he would be disappointed. It's incredible to me the men that were in place for the founding of nation. I am not in any way shape or form a political person, but I have to say it would be a wonderful thing to have someone of the founding fathers' aspirations and devotion to run again.
With a view like this from his back porch, is it any wonder there is no place he would rather be than Mount Vernon. And yet he really didn't get to spend much time there at all. I think at one time he was gone for seventeen years. He had to have some people he really trusted to run it while he was gone. I didn't realize until this trip that Martha actually went to war with him. I am grateful they don't do this now.
The original Washington family vault. It would flood and get broken into. In his will, Washington actually stated that he wanted a new vault built on his land. It wasn't until after someone did break into this one and there was rumor that they had stolen some of his bones, that they got on that.
We got to see a wreath ceremony at the new vault. This cub scout started it off by leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I don't know when I last stood and said this, but I have to admit, it was good to know I still remember it.
The next part of the ceremony Sally got to do. She read George Washington's Prayer for His Country. It reads "I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have the United States in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Fields, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with the Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, were the Characteristicks of the Devine Author of our blessed Religion , and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can neber hope to be a happy Nation." (Adapted from Washington's Circular Letter to the States, which he wrote on June 8, 1783, as the Commander-in-Chief at his headquarters in Newburgh, New York. This circular was directed to the Governors and the States of the new nation; his reference to them has been replaced by the words "the United States." Otherwise the words and the spellings are those of General George Washington of the Continental Army.)
The guide asked for a Veteran to actually go into the vault and lay the wreath. We had two Vietnam Vets in our group. They decided to work together to do this. One of the vets is John.
Shaking hands after laying the wreath. Jen and I could not get over how much the other gentleman looked like our Uncle Gary.
Inside the vault with the wreath. Newly learned fact about his granite casket. I don't remember who actually built and designed it, but he actually contacted the Washington family and asked if he could do this for the President and did it for free. Yet another appropriate tribute to an incredible man.
Sally signing the book saying the she took part of the wreath laying ceremony.
John's turn.
A better view of the top of his casket.
Martha Washington's casket. They didn't get her's donated. It's not near as ornate as his. A lot of that, unfortunately, probably did have to do with the cost.
They try to run the farm now as it would have been in Washington's days. The oxen would just be proof of this.
I don't know where the stair case leads, but it was a nice place to stop for a picture moment.
Slave cabin. That would be Jen leaning in to check it out.
The house at Mount Vernon from outside the gates. It's an incredibly beautiful house. I love the red roof.Website: MountVernon.org
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