BRUSH PRAIRIE — Fifth-grade students from Tukes Valley School in Battle Ground recently had the opportunity to have their historical questions answered by a famous founding father during a special event, “A Conversation With Gen. George Washington,” as part of the 2022 Washington Sons of The American Revolution conference in Vancouver.
The special session was hosted to encourage students and teachers to participate in the conference which attracted many Compatriot members from across Washington and Oregon. Numerous workshops on genealogy, medicine practiced during the revolution and the role of spies throughout the revolution were also held.
The students were invited to ask Washington anything about his life and the times he lived in. Vern Frykholm, a George Washington reenactor from Sequim who travels the nation talking to students, provided many colorful insights. One story he shared revealed how Washington was urged by his half-brother, Lawrence, to seek a commission in the British Royal Navy. It was only the words of his widowed mother, Mary, who convinced him to stay in the colonies that led him to change his mind.
“Given all the divisiveness taking place in our nation today, it’s vital to have a character such as George Washington to remind us of where we can bridge our differences,” said Frykholm. “Despite his flaws, Washington was an American for everyone.”
