Six years. Peter scott, one of the things that john and i have discussed with many of our guests is interpretation on Civil War Battlefield parks. We have also talked about the partnerships with academics and we have seen with many of our guests, including our guest on thursday, nina Silver Silver was one of the first historians that came to the park and had conversations with the park staff about ways to broaden the interpretation of gettysburg and time and time again john and i have noticed that these connections between academics and public historians, you cannot conclude there is this a great gulf between these two sides as i think there once was. I thought we could open by having you reflect upon how battlefield interpretation, how it changed over time during your career and if you wouldnt mind, i would be interested in what you see as opportunities as we look ahead. Or iimportant observation my girlsy fun fact cameron and isabel carmichael, i have to give them a shout out today b
Bradburn, traces the president s military career from french and indian war, through the American Revolution. Here we are again. Welcome back to mt. Vernon. My name is doug bradburn. Im the president and ceo of George Washingtons mt. Vernon. And its been my delight to have these opportunities to talk about the story of George Washington. Last wednesday we were in our museum, this is what we call our Education Center here at mt. Vernon. It focuses on the life of George Washington. Really, a grand sense of his biography and why he matters and how he impacted the age that he lived in and why his legacy Still Matters to us today. Last time we were looking at his youth, a youth that youll remember we said is oftentimes enwrapped in romance. Its wrapped in myth. Its hard to get at because its the period where its least documented. But it really is an interesting period to understand George Washington in the context of the 18th century. Of course, hes most known to americans and perhaps to fo
We will get into that. Let me say a little bit about scott. Welcome, scott. Many of our viewers know scott from his very long and successful and productive tenure and engagement with the National Park. He has been retired for a little more than 10 years or a little less than 10 years, excuse me. Geez, actually six years. Peter one thing john and i have discussed with many of our guests is interpretation on Civil War Battlefield parks. We also talked about partnerships with academics. We have seen with many of our guests, including our guest on thursday, nina silver, one of the first historians who came to the park and had conversations about ways to broaden the interpretation of gettysburg. Time and time again, john have noticed these connections between academics and public historians. Cant then conclude there is this great gap or golf between the two sides. I thought we could open by howng you reflect upon battlefield interpretation has changed over time during your career. And then,
Really a grans sed sense of his biology. Last time we were looking at his youth. A youth that we say is often times wrapped in romance, in myth, it is hard to get at. It is a period where it is least documented and it is an interesting period. But of course he is most known to americans and perhaps to folks around the world as a great military commander. The general that led the americans through the american war for indense and eight long years of war. And his identity as a warrior is a crucial one. Thinking about who is George Washington, how did he think of himself, as, and why does it matter today. He is still studied regularly in the great military disciplines well as the war college. Washington is a fundamental figure in the establishment of american tradition of leadership in arms. He was the first officer of the American Army. The United States army dates its on birth to his service. And the Continental Congress of him taking over the army that we will talk about a little bit.
On september 12th, 19, 18 the American Expeditionary force launched their First Independent operation of world war i. We travel to northeastern france to visit a few locations and learn about a battle in a town just inside of bulge that the germans had occupied since 1914. To begin the story, here is a portion of a 1960 u. S. Army film that gives a brief sketch of the operation. In late july, 1918, pushing created the First United States Army under his command. Immediate steps were taken to concentrate American Forces on one point on the line. That point was saintmihiel. Had held a since early in the war penetrating the allied lines, 60 miles it enabled that enemy to harass operations. More than half 1 million first army troops assembled for the task to crushing it out of existence. 15 divisions were moved into division. By the end of the day, on september 11th, 1918, the first army was ready for its First Independent operation against the enemy. At dawn on the 12th, drizzling rain, th