From history lessons to family ties, a special trip to Mount Vernon celebrates the first president’s enduring influence.
By April Rodgers Payne
Today, February 22, we celebrate George Washington’s 293rd birthday! In honor of this special day, I want to share a personal story. Over the past week, my son, Cam Rodgers, has been sharing stories about the Presidents of the United States on FreeWire. His passion for history and the presidency is what led us to this journey.
On Wednesday, May 29, 2024, we drove toward George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia, with the Washington Memorial in our rearview mirror and my son, Cameran (Cam)— 15 years old — excited for what he was about to do. He was going to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of the first President of the United States.
Cam was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum, and his fixation? Presidents of the United States. Since the age of six, he had read books, looked up facts, and constantly bombarded his family, friends, or even random strangers with presidential trivia. Think I’m joking? A few years ago, while waiting in line for The Gemini at Cedar Point on the 4th of July, Cam schooled someone wearing a George Washington shirt. She assured us he wasn’t bothering her and she really enjoyed learning new facts.
Left-Washington Monument selfie with the family; Right- Cam and Cory in front of a statue of Washington at Mount Vernon.
We have visited memorials and cemeteries in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Cam has difficulties in school, so in the fall of 2023, we made a deal: if he had a good eighth-grade year, we would take a trip to Washington, D.C., at the end of the school year in May. He wanted to see all the presidents’ memorials in D.C. — what better reward could there be? With good behavior we counted down the days until Memorial Day 2024, the day we would start out on our adventure.
But this wasn’t just any president we were going to see that day; this was our Uncle George. Elizabeth Washington Lewis, the president’s sister, was our great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmother on my father’s side. Some of Washington’s Rodgers descendants you may see in Bucyrus include, Harold, Evelyn, Debbie, Marty, Shelly, and Stacy. A little-known fact: George Washington had red hair. He powdered it white because he disliked wigs. That red hair had passed down through many generations of Washingtons, Lewises, and Rodgers — and there it was, sitting in the car with us, on my other son, Cory.
Showing the red hair off! Left-picture is a painting of Washington with his red hair and right picture is an actual locket of Washington’s hair both pictures are from George Washington’s Mount Vernon Vernon; Middle- Cory and his inherited ginger hair at the Reflecting pool with ducks in front of the Lincoln Memorial in May 2024.
When we arrived at Mount Vernon, we couldn’t see the house at first. Instead, we encountered a massive welcome center and museum, where we had to check in and obtain passes granting us access to the tomb, gardens, mansion, farm, outbuildings, distillery, gristmill, and the Slave Cemetery and Memorial.
Our first stop was the tomb. Cam carried the wreath, which was created and donated by Sue Stander of Norton’s Flowers in Bucyrus. It had traveled from Bucyrus to Gettysburg to Washington, D.C., and was finally making its last stop at George Washington’s resting place. We met our guide, who explained the ceremony. First, my husband led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Then, I had the honor of reading General Washington’s Prayer for His Country. Finally, Cam had his moment to shine. He carried the wreath on its stand and gently placed it in front of the gate that protected his great-uncle, whom he had studied so much about. What a proud and exciting moment that was! Afterward, we were presented with a certificate, and then we went exploring.
Left-The family in front of the tomb of George and Martha Washington,; Right-Cam after he placed the wreath; Middle-The beautiful and very presidential wreath created and donated by Sue Stander of Norton’s Flower of Bucyrus, as we walked away and left it in front of President Washington’s Tomb
We started by paying tribute to the enslaved individuals buried in the Slave Cemetery and visiting the Slave Memorial. That area was even more somber than the President’s Tomb. Next, we set off for the mansion, where we had a scheduled tour. While waiting, we wandered through the gardens, filled with vegetables and flowers grown just as they had been in colonial times. In one section, they had planted cabbage to spell out George Washington.
Left- Part of the gardens,; Middle-View of the Potomac River; Right-The Slave Memorial.
While in line, we admired the view of the Potomac River, which Mount Vernon overlooked. The day was hot, and the line was long, so we struck up conversations with other visitors and the volunteers. Cam, our little historian, knew some facts about President Washington than even some of the guides were unaware of. Some were surprised to learn he was a redhead, even though a lock of his hair is displayed in the museum. They were also fascinated to hear that Washington personally designed much of Mount Vernon, from the portico columns to the wallpaper and paintings. Cam had learned these facts when he was just six — long before we discovered our family’s connection to Washington.
Left-The key to the Bastille hanging on the wall in the front foyer; Middle-The dining room; Right-The sitting room complete with the refurbished hapsichord.
Finally, we entered the house through the back porch — a stunning space with rocking chairs where the boys sat, watching visitors stroll across the lawn leading to the Potomac. Inside, we admired the beautifully restored furnishings, including a hapsichord that was being played in the background. In the hallway before ascending the stairs, a glass case displayed a key — the key to the Bastille! It was a gift from the Marquis de Lafayette in 1790, symbolizing liberty and victory over despotism. As we walked up the stairs, I asked if the banister was original. It was. How incredible to touch something that George and Martha Washington had touched so many years ago! We explored the guest bedrooms before reaching the most significant room of all — George and Martha Washington’s bedroom. The very bed in which Washington died on December 14, 1799, was still there. Descending the stairs and stepping outside, the tour was over, but we were left with a feeling of awe and a memory to last a lifetime.
Left -Washington’s office; Middle-The bedroom that George and Martha shared, with the bed where Washington died on 12–14–1799; Right-is Cam and Cory sitting on the back porch enjoying the breeze and looking at the Potomac River
During this trip, Cameran also visited the Gettysburg farm of Dwight D.Eisenhower and the graves or memorials of John F. Kennedy, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, William H. Taft, Woodrow Wilson, and Abraham Lincoln — including Ford’s Theatre and the Petersen House, where Lincoln died. We also visited The White House before we left Washington D.C., during President Joe Biden’s administration and had the chance to watch Marine One take off.
What Norton’s Flowers did was completely first class. They really went above and beyond. Keeping the wreath in pristine shape on a 400 plus mile car ride was a challenge unto itself. If they haven’t been thanked publicly for some reason or another, they should be! Thank you again Norton’s for your great gesture.