The Lesson of Cincinnatus and George Washington

You have to go back to 458 B.C. to find the legendary Roman leader who inspired the greatest act of America’s first president. Baltimore’s Washington Monument, located in the city’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, is less famous than its Washington D.C. counterpart. But it’s arguably more interesting.

The Monument is a 180-foot tower with a 15-foot George Washington statue on top. But Washington isn’t depicted in his military uniform. Instead, he’s dressed in a Roman toga, and he’s laying down a scroll he holds in his hand. Why a toga instead of a tri-cornered hat? The artist knew the story of Cincinnatus, and its connection to Washington.

Yes long time ago. I definitely left a station near the mall in DC though. It seems I remember the tiled walls of the station and the tunnel though unique to the DC Metro. I know i’ve been from Union to Chicago on Amtrak, but I guess I must have gone out of Union Station. But that was 42 years ago.....hehehe.....my mind fails me. It seems I was also there when Kurt Smochke was mayor? I think that was his name. In the 90s? I’ve traveled all over this country and the world for business and pleasure. Hard to keep things straight. This getting old thing isn’t good on that part of the brain for me.

The Society of the Cincinnati was formed at the end of the Revolutionary War by officers of the Continental Army, who saw themselves as following the example of Cincinnatus. The city of Cincinnati, Ohio, is named for the Society.

The Society still exists. Three members of my chapter of the SAR are also members of the Society of the Cincinnati. The SAR is much easier to get into.

No problem. Just a stickler for accuracy.

Schmoke was ‘90s. Yes. He’s the one that started the nonsense “City that Reads” benches (now includes “greatest city in America” LOL).

I sure wish that was true. My mother loved her home city.

The first fellow I really got to know from Baltimore had a mixed view. He loved Baltimore, but left in the early 80s because of crime. He was a young man and probably did a good thing by leaving because he was getting caught up in some bad things with some bad people. Never saw him after the late 80s. I always wondered if he went back or what happened to him. Strangely, I see the same thing from Philly. Locals either call it “The City of Brotherly Love” or “Philthydelphia”. I come from the deep south. Grew up on the edge of a small city. I wouldn’t call it rural but there were woods and fields to play in and poke dead things with sticks, shoot guns, fish. But I’ve been to nearly every major city in the USA. 5 states I haven’t made it to yet. Hawaii, Maine, Vermont, North and South Dakota. I tend to love enjoy nature when I can. I try to get out to the Rockies as often as I can and ride horses (though those days may be coming to and end). Had a quarter horse lay down on me in Colorado a few years ago. Caught my left leg under her. Lucky for me there was about three feet of snow on the ground otherwise she would have snapped my leg easily. But I have a friend with a horse (a paint) right outside of Estes Park (about 3 miles from the Stanley Hotel where Steven King wrote The Shining) that is a true mountain horse. He is named Rudy. Horse has the most amazing footing and we ride inclines with 1000 ft drops off the trail. But riding him is like hugging your loved ones. There I go dreaming of being in the mountains today riding a horse. Short for this world probably and frankly I’m ok with that This world I don’t understand anymore. People don’t even know the difference between male and female which Neanderthals had figured out long before now. Have a great weekend OlLine Rebel.

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