Interesting facts of the man, the general, our first president:

At 16 he helped survey Shenandoah lands for Thomas, Lord Fairfax

At 26, he married Martha Curtis, a widow who already had two children, Jackie and Patsy. Washington never had any children of his own.

He bred hound dogs that he treated like members of the family. He gave some of them unusual names: Tarter, True Love, and Sweet Lips.

Commissioned a lieutenant colonel in 1754, he fought the first skirmishes of what grew into the French and Indian War. The next year, as an aide to Gen. Edward Braddock, he escaped injury although four bullets ripped his coat and two horses were shot from under him.

At the time Washington was elected, there were 7 states and the population was almost 4 million.

George Washington had to borrow money to go to his own inauguration.

He was the only president inaugurated in two cities: New York and Philadelphia.

After her husband's death, Martha Washington burned all letters to retain privacy.

When George Washington was elected President, there was a king in France, a czarina in Russia, an emperor in China, and a shogun in Japan. Only the office of President remains.

George Washington who commanded the Continental Army as a four-star general was promoted posthumously to the position of six-star "General of the Armies of Congress" by an order of Jimmy Carter, who felt America's first President should also be America's highest military official.

The official or national seal of the Confederate states of America engraved in 1864 bore a portrait of George Washington and his birthday, February 22nd which also simplified the date Jefferson Davis was sworn in as president of the Confederacy.

Mary Ann Randolph Custis, Robert E Lee's wife was the great grand daughter of Martha Washington. Her Father Washington Custis was the adopted son of George Washington

George Washington Quotes

"It is better be alone than in bad company."

"Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."

"If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter. "

"Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government."

"My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth."

"How soon we forget history... "

"I have no other view than to promote the public good, and am unambitious of honors not founded in the approbation of my Country."

"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good."

"When firearms go, all goes. We need them every hour."

I hope you all had a wonderful President's Day last Monday.