GEORGE WASHINGTON

     There are many great stories of GOD'S deliverance in the founding of our nation that used to be in every American History book. But the enemies of GOD and this nation have deleted them, robbing GOD of the glory due His Holy Name. Let us review the sacrifice of our founding fathers that truly deserves to be a part of our Memorial Day Celebration. The moral fiber of our pioneers; the heaven-led wisdom of their best intentions that they put in the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights; all the virtue of these documents that received the approbation of heaven, the men who rule America today stand as moral dwarfs when compared to the virtuous ideals of our nation's founders.

     Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence the fates that befell them for daring to put their names to that document proves the level of patriotism and perseverance of character that utterly rebukes the laziness, the immoral indifference, and "special interest" greed ruling in our nation’s capital today.

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year, he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.

     But in the midst of these great trials of men whose thirst for freedom would not be quenched, there is one masterpiece of history that shows heaven's approbation to this fledgling nation.

     God was truly at work in President Washington's life at numerous times in his distinguished career both during the French-Indian Wars & the Revolutionary War. Nothing short of miraculous is the explanation that can be given for how he survived in particular the Battle of the Monongahela River in July 1755. That expedition to Fort Duquesne was ambushed by French & Indian forces, and after Gen. Braddock was killed Col. Washington helped in the command as one of the highest ranking officers though he was there only as a civilian guide and advisor to Braddock.

     With several Indians shooting at him at point blank range and officers dying all around him Washington mysteriously survived the hailstorm of bullets for 2 hours to rally his surviving men and escape the slaughter - though his jacket had 4 bullet holes & 3 horses were shot out from under him. (80 years later a gold seal was found on the field of battle bearing his initials that had been shot off his body). Though a young man his reputation quickly grew in the colonies and among many he was called “The American Achilles” as the general feeling was God had protected him during that slaughter and it was obvious to at least the Indians who fought him that no mortal could kill him.

     Many years later Washington met the Indian Chief who had personally commanded his death. He told Washington, “I am a chief, and ruler over my tribes. My influence extends to the waters of the great lakes, and to the far blue mountains. I have traveled a long and weary path, that I might see the young warrior (George Washington, from the day he had horses shot out from underneath him) of the Great Battle. It was on the day when the white man's blood mixed with the streams of our forest, that I first beheld this chief. I called to my young men and said, mark yon tall and daring warrior? He is not of the red-coat tribe — he hath an Indian's wisdom, and his warriors fight as we do — himself is alone exposed. Quick, let your aim be certain, and he dies. Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for him, knew not how to miss - 'twas all in vain, a power mightier far than we, shielded him from harm. He cannot die in battle. I am old, and soon shall be gathered to the great council fire of my fathers in the land of shades, but ere I go, there is something bids me speak in the voice of prophecy. Listen! The Great Spirit protects that man, and guides his destinies — he will become the chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire.”

     Another telling of the story: “Foolishness!” the Indian chief exclaimed, as he gazed scornfully across the battlefield. From their hiding places the French and Indian warriors could see the British soldiers dressed in their bright red uniforms, shoulder to shoulder; 1500 men marching down the forest road to their death, like a grove of small trees waiting to be chopped to the ground. The British were trained for European battle and stood little chance against the French and Indian guerilla warfare. Fully exposed atop their horses, British officers attempted to hold their men in formation even as the Indian warriors shot them one by one. The slaughter ensued for two hours. “Quick! Let your aim be certain, and he dies!” the chief commanded. The warriors leveled their rifles at Washington—round after round, bullet after bullet; smoke filled the forest. Twice his horse was shot from beneath him. As horses were left by the death of fellow officers, he mounted them and continued to crisscross the battlefield carrying orders to the soldiers. More rounds fired, the sharpshooters taking one life after another. Nearly 1000 young men were killed, and still, Lieutenant Colonel Washington remained. The native warriors stared in disbelief. Their rifles seldom missed their mark. “Stop firing!” the Chief commanded. “This one is under special protection of the Great Spirit.” Another Indian warrior added, “I had seventeen clear shots at this man . . . and after all, could not bring him to the ground. This man was not born to be killed by the bullet.” As the firing slowed, Washington gathered the remaining troops and retreated to safety. That evening, he noticed an odd tear in his coat. It was a bullet hole! He rolled up his sleeve and looked at his arm directly under the hole. There was no mark upon his skin. Amazed, he took off his coat to find three more holes where bullets had passed through the fabric, never piercing his skin. The life of George Washington had been miraculously spared.

     George Washington's friend, Dr. James Craik, who was a witness of the battle said: "I expected every movement to see him fall. His duty and situation exposed him to every danger. "Nothing but the superintending care of Providence could have saved him from the fate of all around him."

     After the American Revolution and George Washington's victory securing American independence, many wanted to crown him king of America. To this offer he resolutely declined. His only desire was to go back to his home to live a peaceable life. Of this remarkable character trait, King George III of England stated: "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world."