Luncheon With George and Martha

Photo from georgeandmarthawashington.com

Every February, local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) have a joint luncheon meeting. We always meet at a fancy retirement complex in town and eat in one of their dinning rooms.

Normally The Colonel, my HODAR (Husband of a Daughter of  the American Revolution), does not attend the monthly meetings of my DAR chapter. HODARs are always welcome to attend and some always do, but The Colonel says that is an evening for me to be with the ladies. I agree. But, this joint meeting was going to be a bit special.

You know by now that The Colonel and I like history. George and Martha Washington were going to be guest speakers at this year's joint meeting. The Colonel did not want to miss it.

The Washingtons were expertly portrayed by Bill and Cara Elder. The first person interpreters are retired educators who have taught in Pennsylvania and Florida. Bill was a high school history teacher and an Exceptional Student Education teacher. Cara taught computer application and elementary education. They have 40 years of teaching experience. The Elders are certified as Skype for Education and have taught internet classes that have been seen worldwide.

Bill and Cara participate in battle reenactments and living history events in places like Mt. Vernon,

Valley Forge, Colonial Williamsburg and Philadelphia (during the Fourth of July).

In their presentations the Elders cover several topics about the Washingtons. They revisit George and Martha's childhoods, the French and Indian War, George and Martha's love story, the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary War, the Constitution and others.

The Washingtons spoke to our group about George as President and his "Lady" Washington. They shared the contributions they made during the birth of our nation and reviewed the events surrounding the Constitutional Convention. They also spoke about the eight years George served as Chief Executive and "Lady" Washington's role in those years. George and Martha told us of the leaders they worked with (John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Lafayette) as well as some of the major events that occurred during George's presidency such as the Whiskey Rebellion (The Colonel has an ancestor who fought during the rebellion), Jay's Treaty, the foundation of the National Bank and the future capital city of D.C.

George and Martha took turns speaking. One would sit at their table and "write" as the other was speaking.

George Washington willingly served as president of our great nation for eight years. He was asked to serve another four years but he declined as he wanted to go home to his beloved Mt. Vernon where he and Martha could lead a quiet, private life. Martha too was happy to have her husband back to herself. Of her time as "Lady" Washington she was quoted to say, "I live a very dull life here... indeed I think I am more like a state prisoner than anything else".

Martha was a military spouse before she was the first "First Lady". She would often travel with George during the war years. Her following quote mirrors what I always thought during my years as a military spouse and beyond:

"I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition".

I think I would like to have met the real George and Martha but seeing Bill and Cara Elder's portrayal of them is the next best thing.