Washington's Legacy to Live on at Wrightstown Elementary

students were presented with a memorable gift Tuesday morning: a reproduction of Rembrandt Peale’s portrait of George Washington along with an American flag that has flown over Mount Vernon.

The portrait and flag, which were presented to the school during a special ceremony, were a gift from the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.

The Association, which owns Mount Vernon, Washington’s home in Virginia, was founded in 1853 with the goal of preserving his legacy of leadership and service.

A parent of one of the students who has a relative involved in the association notified the school of the portrait program, said Principal Susan Gormley. The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association’s portrait program distributes Rembrandt's painting to interested schools who promise to display it prominently.

Gormley said the portrait will be displayed in the main lobby of the building. The flag will be displayed next to the portrait.

There to celebrate the dedication of the artwork and flag was Dean Malissa, a historical re-enactor portraying Washington.

During a school-wide assembly, Gormley, Superintendent Mark Klein and Malissa addressed the student body and discussed the importance of service.

“Service is an important part of the Council Rock School District,” Klein said, adding the district’s high school students last year completed a combined 100,000 hours of community service.  He asked students to spend some time over the upcoming spring break to think about how they can be of service at home, in school and to others in the community.

“To become one in service is the greatest gift you can give your country, your home, your community and, I would argue, yourself,” Malissa told the students.

The framed portrait, which is an exact replica of the original one owned by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, will allow Washington’s legacy of honor and service to live on in the hallways of Wrightstown Elementary, Gormley said.