| George Washington crossed the Delaware River on | | | | places as cold as this river. Not only on during the |
| Christmas Day, December 25, 1776 during the | | | | holidays but every day. Their experiences are as |
| American Revolutionary War, as depicted in an | | | | choppy as the icy river. With their hearts split between |
| extraordinary painting by the German American artist | | | | a duty sworn to serve and a desire to achieve their |
| Emmauel Leutze. In this commemorative painting, | | | | best militarily, they cross over and away from the very |
| George Washington stands boldly at the front of the | | | | people they have made an oath to protect. They not |
| small craft, cape flying in the freezing cold wind only to | | | | only put themselves in harms way to protect us but |
| be mocked by the American flag flowing the same | | | | they also will lay down their life to protect our precious |
| behind him with twice as many folds. This painting now | | | | constitution that keeps us free. George Washington |
| belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New | | | | has this kind of commitment written all over his face |
| York City, although there are many copies of it in | | | | even though he had no Constitution to defend at that |
| existence. Why is this painting so important to | | | | time. But, it was heartfelt and the commitment is total. |
| Americans? Why today, is this portrait of a determined | | | | Once he gets out into the middle of a raging Delaware |
| man, on Christmas Day, crossing a choppy freezing | | | | River, there is no turning back from the order to attack |
| cold river to defend his country important? What is the | | | | the British and Hessian soldiers at Trenton, New |
| correlation between fighting the war of 1776 and | | | | Jersey. Look at George Washington's face in the |
| fighting a war today? This depiction of a patriotic | | | | painting and consider the rag tag Continental Army he |
| leader of his troops, who won't stop for the warm | | | | led. They were tired and cold. Some with no shoes |
| traditional Christmas dinner or stop because the | | | | marched in the snow to follow him. Now, that is a |
| elements are too fierce, has set the tone for today's | | | | leader. This was no small American victory. It leaves |
| American soldier profile. Soldiers of today are just as | | | | an emotional and patriotic message, still today, for |
| committed, and loyal as Emmauel Leutze portrays | | | | Americans. The Battle of Trenton was a decisive |
| George Washington in this fantastic work of art. | | | | turning point in the American Revolution and a pivotal |
| The colorful emblems worn on the uniforms, in the | | | | moment in our history. Washington later reflected, 'the |
| form of the thousands of unit patches worn as | | | | difficulty of passing the river on a very severe night |
| shoulder sleeve insignia amply demonstrates the | | | | and their march through violent storm of snow and hail |
| dedication through the many colorful designs that tell | | | | did not least abate their ardor...' That commitment by |
| the units history and or dedication that is instilled in each | | | | our troops still applies to this day. To appreciate this |
| and every soldier. Today, we witness troops leaving | | | | work of art is to appreciate our troops and our |
| their families, commuting back and forth to war from | | | | freedom. |