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| Even Martha danced at George’s party. |
This year’s Distinguished Patriot Award was presented to Robert M. S. McDonald of the United States Military Academy. McDonald, a professor of history at the United States Military Academy, author, and specialist on the early American Republic, echoed that sentiment: “Toward the end of the Revolution, when [King] George III heard of Washington’s plans to give up power, resign his commission, and return home to Mount Vernon, he scoffed in disbelief. ‘If he does that,’ the king said, ‘then surely he’s the world’s greatest man.’ And that’s exactly what George Washington did, and that’s exactly what George Washington was.”
President of the SRNY, Ambrose Richardson, stated in his welcoming remarks: “Tonight we celebrate George Washington, [a man who] spent seven and a half years in the field risking his life, to oppose the greatest military force in the world, and was unanimously chosen as President by the electors on two occasions.”
All funds raised from the event benefit Fraunces Tavern Museum, a program of the SRNY that has been serving the NYC community for over 110 years and the historic site where George Washington gave his final farewell toast to his officers on December 4, 1783.
Fraunces Tavern Museum Executive Director, Jessica B. Phillips, called on the principles of the enlightenment, and the quest for knowledge that were championed by George Washington and other heroes of the American Revolution to exemplify the Museum’s continued pursuit of excellence in public education and to thank guests for their valued support.
“There is one place in New York City that is dedicated to preserving the history of the American Revolution and educating the community about American’s founding. Over the last seven years the Museum has doubled annual attendance, tripled public programming offerings, and increased public support by 22%. None of this would have been possible without the people in this room.”
