by Thomas Sulier
In the winter of 1777 – 1778, George Washington after observing the stricken troops at Valley Forge wrote:
“To see men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lie on, without shoes, for want of which their marches might be traced by the blood from their feet, and almost as often without provisions as with them…is proof of patience and obedience which in my opinion can scarce be paralleled.”
It has been my experience, when you listen to various speakers in public or private life, that the words of some speakers are quickly dissipated, forgotten and lost, while the words of others, perhaps succinct and sincere, make an impression on you and are retained for a lifetime.
George Washington’s words spoken at Valley Forge describing the herculean resistance and selfless sacrifice of the troops at Valley Forge and Morristown are an example of the latter, and have stuck with me since my High School History sojourn back in my adolescence.
The spirit which was embodied by these men, the painful sacrifice and arduous patience was borne of a desire to create and give rise to a free Nation populated by citizens who entertain a brotherly affection and love for another, working hand in hand to improve not only their lot but the world of their families and neighbors.
I believe that I was singularly blessed to have remembered this narrative of sacrifice, and to be able to understand that the courage and resolve of those men is something I, and the people of this nation, must sometime soon emulate if we are to renew and refresh the hopes that motivated them back in 1777.