Despite the rain, Washington Crossing Cemetery welcomes its commander-in-chief

Gen. George Washington encountered an icy Delaware River getting to the Battle of Trenton, and frigid conditions in Valley Forge. So soaking rain couldn't dampen the spirits of those who came out Saturday to Washington Crossing National Cemetery to see a large bronze statue of Washington be unveiled overlooking the cemetery near the site of his famous river crossing.

The statue, "Washington Kneeling in Prayer," was made by sculptor Jennifer Frudakis-Petry of Plumstead at the request of the Guardians of Washington Crossing Cemetery who raised all the funding needed for the project. Before the unveiling, she beamed as she thanked the Guardians for "being wonderful partners" in her undertaking of making the statue.

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Retired Marine Gen. John Kelly, former White House chief of staff, gave a moving speech about all those who are laid to rest in the nation's national cemeteries, and the 42 million Americans who have served in the military over the country's history and the 1 million who have died while serving.

He said it was "a very good thing that we are honoring the father of our country in this way, but Washington would also want to honor his troops and all the brave men and women who fought and served the country."

Kelly, whose two sons and son-in-law followed him into the military, lost his son, Robert, who was killed in Afghanistan. He said he once believed that America just needed a minimum force to serve, but warned that since he's left the military he's become concerned that is not enough.

"May all of our revered war dead rest, may those of us who loved them find peace and understanding in their sacrifice and may the America they so loved and protected and gave their lives for be forever worthy of their sacrifice, of this I pray. Semper fidelis," he said.

Many in the crowd stood or sat in what at times was a torrential downpour to hear the guest speakers and watch the unveiling ceremony unfold.

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Glenn Powers, deputy under secretary for Field Programs and Cemetery Operations at the Veterans Administration, supervises 155 national cemeteries and praised the Guardians of Washington Crossing for the work they do, as the raising the funds for the statue shows.

"The Guardians do an outstanding job every day making sure veterans laid to rest are recognized for their service," he said. There are other good groups at other national cemeteries but "there is no one better," he said. John Heenan, chair of the monument committee, said that the Guardians raised funds from private citizens and organizations.

Powers said that most modern national cemeteries do not have the connection to history that the Civil War cemeteries do, but the community at Washington Crossing and the Guardians "have steadily built that connection to history.

"Because of what happened here...in 1776, those who lie in the cemetery have a strong connection to the founding of this country and that is what this statue will remind everyone when they come to visit this cemetery. And that sacrifice has continued on and on for almost 250 years."

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Statue of Gen. Washington in prayer now overlooks national cemetery