Celebrating George Washington's Birthday on the National Mall
Celebrating George Washington's Birthday AND AMERICA’s 250th on the National Mall
On February 20th the Trust for the National Mall was proud to join the National Park Service and the Washington Monument Society to welcome local elementary students to honor George Washington's 294th birthday at the monument built in his honor.
The celebration featured a tour of the monument along with a special ceremony featuring a fife and drum performance at the historic Sylvan Theater near the Washington Monument.
The ceremony began with a performance by the Fort McHenry Fife and Drum Corps, followed by remarks from National Park Service Superintendent Kevin Griess, who highlighted Washington’s legacy as a leader and founder of our nation, and honored America’s 250th anniversary year.
Outerbridge Horsey, Vice President of the Washington National Monument Society, also shared remarks celebrating George Washington and the history of the Monument. Founded in 1833, the Washington National Monument Society was the first private organization to fund the construction of the Washington Monument on the National Mall; that spirit of public-private partnership continues today.
The Trust joined the event to share its new National Mall Gateway learning platform with students and educators on site. Students explored the history and significance of the Monument and the National Mall through music and storytelling, even marching alongside the fife and drum corps in celebration. Through programs such as the National Mall Gateway, the Trust is helping to connect the next generation of learners to the stories, history, and civic meaning of America’s Front Yard.
Interested in more? Visit the National Mall Gateway at https://gateway.nationalmall.org gateway.nationalmall.org for special Presidential Tours, including personalized experiences highlighting the U.S. presidents memorialized on America’s Front Yard.
