Washington's tent shows dedication to men, country

During the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington's headquarters was usually his tent.

Today, Washington's tent sits in the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia where it reigns as a "rock star object." Now nearly 250 years old, it is made of sturdy flax linen with red scalloped edges and is shaped like a long oval. Its dimensions are approximately 23 feet long, 14 feet wide, and 12 feet high — a rather large tent for those days.

For me, when I was in Philadelphia, I went to see Benjamin Franklin's grave, Independence Hall, etc. But unfortunately, I didn't even know there was such a museum, or I would have gone to visit it as well.

The tent was made in Reading, Pa. By choosing to camp with his men, and endure their hardships for almost seven years of the war, Washington was doing something highly unusual as it was customary for leaders to use buildings as their headquarters even through World War I and World War II.

However, in Vietnam, we reverted to tents when I was there at the start of the war. After the Revolutionary War, the tent went to Mt. Vernon, but following his death in 1799, it became a family heirloom, displayed by Martha Washington during Marquis Lafayette's return visit in 1824.

Roger Gregory is a Vietnam veteran and business owner in Priest River. He served in the 1st Infantry Division.