It was his birthday after all, and the ladies had done a wonderful job of preparing his party. Still they did not expect George Washington to show up.
But he did. He even sang lead in the men's quartet that performed American patriotic songs.
Of course, those songs may not have yet been written in the time being represented. The real George's birthday had been 285 years ago-Feb. 22, 1732. "Oh,beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain" might not have been envisioned just then.
Nevertheless, George Washington was here in spirit and dress and even took the oath of office before these party-throwers, i.e., the Trammel's Trace Daughters of the American Revolution and their guests.
The true patriot George Thompson was accompanying the president as well as were a mountain man and Robert Livingston of New York, the official who administered that first oath of office. Thompson gave his account of what happened at the time of George's election.
Everyone heard Thompson read the following quote from Washington's First Inaugural address given April 30, 1789:
"there exists in the economy and course of nature an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness; between duty and advantage; between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity "
These four local re-enactors were Keith Crow as George Washington, Dale Perkins as Charles Thompson, Danny Addington as Robert Livingston and Travis Addington as the mountain man.
The local chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) was holding its annual George Washington Tea in honor of his birthday. This time the Trammels Trace ladies went all out with beautiful table decorations, party favors and food. They had even invited several area DAR chapters and prepared for some 45-50 people.
The surprise appearance of George Washington and the others in uniforms hand-sewn by chapter member Carolyn Addington was icing on the cake, so to speak.
"Carolyn has made an extreme effort of labor and love, and I am pleased just to have been a part of helping her," said Traci Jones, president of Trammel's Trace Chapter.
"They went above and beyond," said guest Betty Matthews of the Vivian, LA, Frances Rebecca Harrison Chapter of DAR.
Washington's tea party is an elegant and solemn time as well as being a happy and memorable time to remember the patriots of this country and individual family patriots as well.