Tuesday, April 30, 2019

April 30, 1789 - 230 Years Ago Today...

...the first president of the United States of America - George Washington - was sworn into office at Federal Hall in our nation's first capital Philadelphia, PA,  Washington, DC New York, NY. 


As I recall, my son was aware that New York City was our country's first capital but was unaware that Federal Hall was in essence our first White House (so to speak) nor that Washington was sworn in as president on the balcony of that building in NYC in 1789. Brendan and I visited the spot during his surprise Christmas visit to see us in December 2017; I figured it was worth a trip to see it (actually now the Federal Hall National Memorial) and to visit Fraunce's Tavern and raise a glass in memory of our Founding Fathers, many who drank there ever so long before us. 

I have to wonder - how many other American citizens or legal resident aliens (let alone illegal scum) realize that NYC was our first capital, that out first president was sworn in there at Federal Hall in 1789, that the stone upon which he stood while taking the oath of office still exists and is on display in the Federal Hall National Memorial, that the original Federal Hall was demolished and the building now called the Federal Hall National Memorial was in fact built as the Custom House (which came as a surprise to me even though most of my career was with U.S. Customs Office of Investigations) for the Port of NY.

Regardless of who knows it or not, I think today is a worthy day for a celebration of the anniversary of the swearing in of our first President - George Washington - the father of our nation.

All the best,
Glenn B

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