Washington's Farewell

On this day in 1783, more than two years after the British surrender at Yorktown, General George Washington said farewell to the troops he had led through the War of Independence to retire to Mount Vernon. In many other countries, a military leader of Washington's stature and popularity could have taken control of the country by sheer force of will. That Washington did not was a testament to his integrity and commitment to a free and independent country. On the day of his farewell to his troops, we raise Washington's Commander-in-Chief flag.