Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Field Trip to Government Buildings and National Monuments

The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.”
Thomas Paine ~

click on images for higher resolution



Q: What's wrong with these pictures?

A: NO copies of President Washington's Farewell Address in inventory (nor President Jackson's for that matter, but they're off the hook since that's not even in print, YET!) at all but my last stop. And it's not like it's like they can't order it, for the same publisher has it in print and is available online and --wouldn't you know it--not only to they have the date wrong (like the U.S. Senate did), they even say that it was delivered to assembled Members of Congress. I have reached out to them to correct it and such.


First stop - - - Arlington National Cemetery
Status: FAIL

For inspiration, I decided to begin my tour at the final resting place of our fellow Americans who served our country with honor -- many of whom made the Supreme Sacrifice. 


Selfie at the grave of my best friend's grandfather





Second stop - Washington Monument National Monument
Status: FAIL



First in War, First in Peace, First in the Hearts of his Countrymen” Say WHAT?

Of ALL places for it not to be! Really now, this is a national embarrassment and disgrace but, then again, I bet 99.99% of Americans probably don't even know that this towering landmark of the National Mall and Memorial Parks in our nation's capital is an UNFINISHED JOB. Aside from having the Farewell Address read before a Joint Session of Congress with President Trump, justices of the Supreme Court, foreign diplomats, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, etc. all in attendance, the FINAL COMPLETION of the most prominent structure at the center of our National Mall in accordance with McMillan Plan is one of the goals of this project.



Third stop - - - Archives of the United Stares of America
Status: FAIL





Fourth stop - - - Library of Congress
Status: FAIL





Fifth stop - - - United States Capitol
Status: FAIL








Sixth stop - - - Supreme Court of the United States
Status: FAIL




This is bad, I mean REALLY bad -- particularly since the Honorable John Marshall, 4th Chief Justice of the United States, said that;
(George Washington's Farewell Address was) a last effort to impress upon his countrymen those great political truths which had been the guides of his administration, and could alone, in his opinion, form a sure and solid basis, for the happiness, the independence, and the liberty of the United States (and) contains precepts to which the American statesman cannot too frequently recur.”





Seventh stop - - - The White House
Status: FAIL




In the very first paragraph of the White House's online bio, His Excellency is quoted as having said at his inauguration;
As the first of every thing, in our situation will serve to establish a Precedent, it is devoutly wished on my part, that these precedents may be fixed on true principles.”

In the words of President George H.W. Bush;

(President Washington)... 

set standards that every President since has hoped to emulate.”

Hmm, umm hmmm... then why can't those principles and standards be found at the White House? -- as hardcopy IS available in writing! All the more reason I suffer shame and embarrassment  as a United States Citizen! Considering the inventory at the other sites, I also found it rather disturbing that neither America's Founding Documents nor Lincoln's Gettysburg Address were considered worthy of being on the shelf.




Eighth stop - - - Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Status: FAIL






The fact that it's not kept in stock here is particularly disturbing since visitors whose interest may have been sparked after having seen the Farewell Address candle stand in the exhibits on the American presidency are unable to leave with a copy of what I contend is one of the greatest masterpieces of word-crafting for the cause of liberty and peace in the history of human civilization.



Ninth stop - - - George Washington Masonic National Memorial
Status: FAIL





The folks at this site were very receptive to my cause and I look forward to follow up. Although there was quite a selection of books in the shop I was told by the staff that the focus was on His Excellency's life as a Freemason -- as there is an abundance of literature related to his military and political life elsewhere. There were no other books from the series as in the above displays. The grandeur of this structure is commensurate with his legacy.

After having been here, I see that the Freemasons could very well be the perfect people to assist me in my project to facilitate the FINAL COMPLETION OF THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT in accordance with McMillan Plan.




Tenth stop - - - Mount Vernon
Status: FAIL







Like SO many, they think it was signed off on, on the 17th whereas 19th September appears as a just another day in the life of His Excellency on their calendar
BUT.....


it is the date of what is, without a doubt, the most important document to have ever come from the hand of the Father of Our Country.




Eleventh stop: Independence Hall
Status: FAIL

Where it all began on 4th July 1776.








Twelfth stop: Valley Forge National Historical Park
Status: FAIL





All kinds of George Washington stuff but no Farewell Address (SEE ALBUM). They DID, however, have on display this facsimile of the most significant letter written by General Washington BUT, what I'm so riled up about here is that the MOST SIGNIFICANT DOCUMENT WRITTEN BY PRESIDENT WASHINGTON, Founding Father-in-Chief of the United States of America, has been tossed aside and ignored like a worthless piece of rubbish!





Thirteenth stop: Federal Hall
Status: FAIL

Original seat of the U.S. Government










Fourteenth stop: New York Public Library (where the original manuscript lies locked away in storage)

Status: FAIL


 (SEE ALBUM


The absence of the Farewell Address here is particularly ironic because, like the Smithsonian, visitors whose interest may have been piqued by the Alexander Hamilton exhibit are unable to leave with a hard-copy of President Washington's final words to the American people.




Fifteenth stop: Trump Tower to report these findings and submit my open letter to the presidential transition team.




No luck with getting anyone from the transition team to come down and hear what I had to share. Receptionist advised me to send via post which I did -- addressed to son, Eric, since his incoming mail is likely less voluminous.




Sixteenth stop: National Constitution Center

Status: PASS



I wasn't too happy to see it relegated to the back row on the lower shelf but at least they consider worthy of being in inventory unlike ALL OF THE ABOVE!