...and first in the hearts of his countrymen.

In these politically correct times, George Washington isn't the hero he once was. Children don't read about him in school as much as their parents did. They're much more likely to learn about African-American, Native American or female heroes. New Jersey, in fact, issued new history standards a few years ago that omitted any mention of Washington.

Washington's stature has diminished so much that a recent Washington College Poll found that Americans had a higher respect for Bill Clinton's job performance as president than they did for George Washington's.

From his earliest childhood, through his youth, military career, political career and retirement, Washington was a model of Christian virtues -- strength and humility, servanthood and leadership, principles and forgiveness. A man of character. "First in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in the humble and endearing scenes of private life," Maj. Gen. Henry Lee said at Washington's funeral. "Pious, just, humane, temperate and sincere; uniform, dignified and commanding, his example was edifying to all around him, as were the effects of that example lasting."

How many recent statesmen have been widely described with words like these?

from George Washington by Pete Lillback

Washington Times

July 3, 2006