Posted by
Sam Heath on Friday, December 22, 2006 2:50:45 PM
Jeff Daniels’ “The Crossing” was so well done I bought a copy of it when it was made available so I could watch it whenever I wanted. It will be exactly 230 years ago this Christmas that this historic event took place. Being a supporting member of the Mount Vernon Historical Preservation Society I have a very handsome print of George Washington on the wall here where I write together with a print of the famous painting Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze. The engraving by Paul Girardet is one of the scenes in the beautiful calendar I receive each year from The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association which I also support.
The success of Washington’s dangerously audacious decision to make the crossing and attack Trenton on Christmas day cannot be overestimated in its importance, but it drew much criticism from some quarters for being a “sacrilege” against the celebration of Christmas. However, Washington was not deterred by such criticism, believing the cause of freedom and liberty, his own duty and responsibility to fight the War for Independence to win of more importance than observing Christmas in a manner approved by the churches.
There are many beautiful stories surrounding the celebration of Christmas, like the truce during WWI and others of a similar nature. The Christmas season has become one of gay lighting, of so many beautiful carols and stories, the giving of gifts, the stories of Santa believed to have originated with Saint Nicholas the Bishop of Myra.
But despite all the commercialism of the season each Christmas my thoughts turn not only to the birth of Jesus, but to Valley Forge and The Crossing. It is difficult to overdraw the suffering of those soldiers at the time, the hardships endured. And over the many years since, it is now even more difficult to imagine the kind of man Washington had to be that could command such loyalty of his soldiers. Whatever any one else’s opinion I’m convinced Washington knew how to keep the spirit of Christmas in his own heart, and this accounted for his greatness.