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I liked the story of how after some battle, there was a stray dog in their camp. It turned out to be General Howe’s dog, and although the men wanted to keep it as “spoils”, Washington returned it under a flag of truce. A note by Washington was attached to the collar.

One website said Howe was not as ruthless against the colonists after that - but not sure about that. However, a very Gentlemanly thing to do. Of course Washington himself was a big dog lover, so it was an obvious thing to do.

And the formal greeting that Washington wanted - reminds me of how he supposedly would ride in a carriage for most of the way on a trip (when he was President), but the last little bit would ride in on his white horse, as that is what a leader was supposed to look like. (Perhaps a bit like Reagan wearing a suit in the Oval Office all the time).

Washington was a remarkable man. I think he may very well have been one of the most notable men in history. To be given a kingdom, and to refuse it.

One of the things I am fortunate in, is living in Massachusetts and being able to see the history of those times up close. I live within ten miles of The Old North Bridge in Concord, MA. Several years ago, a very important professional day arrived, taking a system live that I had been working on several years to implement.

I was pretty much worn to a nub, long working hours, lots of stress, and on the day we were to go live, I had the luxury of driving in a little later because I was going to be there all night.

It was the end of February, and a cold, bitter, windy day, yet crisp and clear. I drove through Concord taking the more leisurely drive to work, when I thought I would take a little bit longer drive that would take me through some nice horse country.

As I went down that road, it was closed off, bridge under construction. As I turned around, I stopped and realized I was in the parking lot for the The Old North Bridge. It was desolate looking, nobody around, the wind was blowing frozen granules of ice across the ground in waves.

I got out of my car and walked down to the bridge. This is what I saw:

It struck me how beautiful it was there with that golden morning light. I took out my phone and took this picture...I do love that era. So much strife. So much newness. The world was changing, and not this BS about hope and change. THAT stuff is simply tyranny.