George Washington: A True American Hero

George Washington is a name that is held in high regard throughout the United States. He is arguably the most beloved of our Founding Fathers and is still celebrated as a national hero. It is not surprising when one considers the fact that he was both the general that led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolution and was our first president. He also holds the distinct honor of being the only president to be unanimously elected. The newborn nation that had just broken away from England had no history and it naturally needed to create its own heroes to revere. This means that while George Washington was an admirable man with many good qualities, there are many myths and pieces of misinformation surrounding his image. There are numerous reasons as to why he has such a large entourage of falsehoods following him; however, despite these illusions, I still believe that Washington is an authentic American hero that is worthy of admiration and emulation. Most, if not all, Americans have heard the story of George Washington chopping down a cherry tree and when confronted by his father admitting to his transgression and proclaiming that he could not tell a lie. This is one of the most well-known and enduring myths surrounding Washington as the event did not occur and was invented a few years after his death by Mason Weems, a …show more content…
He was the hero that America needed and was crafted to be the perfect role model for the population of the fledgeling nation. His highly private nature combined with his penchant for revealing little about himself to even close friends allowed the perfect environment for these rumors to thrive, especially posthumous ones. Despite the myths and half-truths surrounding his image, Washington was and still is an authentic American hero. He embodies many of the tenants that make our nation great and a man still deserving of our respect for all that he gave to our beloved