2024 Winning Essay (Middle School)
Mariam Church
St. Rita Catholic School
George Washington was a wealthy and prosperous gentleman who, through his example of temperance, courage, and determination, helped to shape the government, economy, civilization, and spirit of the United States of America. He also influenced multiple leaders around the world who look up to him as a role model and to his examples of leadership. He also influenced some of the decisions of our country. As its most famous citizen, he also helped to shape my home town: Alexandria, Virginia.
I’ve heard about George Washington for as long as I can remember. Although George Washington was born in Pope’s Creek and grew up in Fredericksburg, whenever my father tells people where we’re from he tells them that we’re from George Washington’s hometown of Alexandria, Virginia. He also tells people the only president he supports is George Washington and constantly reminds my brothers and me that we are fortunate to share a hometown with our first president.
As members of Mount Vernon, learning about George Washington and his legacy in my hometown have become an important part of family life for me. Washington’s farm sits overlooking the Potomac River: the perfect spot for fishing, loading boats, and any other type of water maneuvering. When he inherited Mount Vernon from his brother, the farm was originally 2,100 acres of tobacco. This changed after Washington experienced problems with the health of his soil, the intense labor that tobacco required, and the debt that this crop sent him into, and decided to rotate his crops on a seven-year schedule that rotated wheat, buckwheat, clover, grass, corn, and potatoes based off of his observations of how the English farmed. George Washington’s farm was mostly maintained by enslaved labor with some hired servants. His farm was also about a day’s drive away from Alexandria which helped promote his involvement in the community.
George Washington’s legacy is found not just at Mount Vernon, but all throughout Alexandria. His first major association with the town was when he assisted the surveyor whose job was to lay out the plan for the city. Since Alexandria is located ten miles north of Mount Vernon, George Washington spent a lot of his time there. He spent so much time there that he built a small house so that he did not have to take the long drives back to Mount Vernon in the evenings. He donated to the construction of St. Mary’s Basilica in Old Town which is the oldest Catholic Church in America; had a pew in Christ Church, which was the church he attended; visited Gadsby's Tavern frequently, including for a ball for his last birthday; and built a canal along the Potomac River. When the Apothecary opened in 1792, his household would go there to get medicine and pick-up his mail. His name is also attached to important landmarks around Alexandria, including the George Washington Memorial Parkway, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, and George Washington Middle School. George Washinton also knew many other important Alexandrians of his day who left an impact in Alexandria, including John Carlyle and General Edward Braddock.
George Washington’s legacy is also found in our government’s history, which affects not just Alexandrians, but all Americans. He helped to form and design the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, the two major documents which helped to form our country and government. Against great odds and the greatest military of its time, Washington bravely led the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War and was the first Commander-in-Chief of the United States of America.
After resigning from his role as Commander-in-Chief in Annapolis, MD, he was unanimously elected to be the first President of the United States of America. After his first year in office, George Washington was unanimously elected again for a second term as president. His second inaugural speech is the shortest in history. Also during his second term he personally led the United States militia to put down the Whiskey Rebellion. Though he served for his second term, he really wanted to return to his life as a farmer. After his second term in office, George Washington declined the offer for a third term as President and instead retired to Alexandria and his beloved Mount Vernon to spend the rest of his days with his wife and two grandchildren. When George Washington died in his bed in December 1799, he was at peace. His last words were, “tis well.” The country was devastated and mourned the loss of a great patriot and The Father of his Country. His role as a leader, landowner, politician, and Founding Father was a priceless moment in American History. He left important marks in the government, economy, and life of the United States of America. He set expectations for common citizens and leaders in the government of the United States and became a role model for leaders all around the world. As Alexandrians, his legacy is all around us every day. Not bad for a boy born in Popes Creek, Virginia.