Washington at Prayer Statue Impressive and Inspirational

The impressive nine-foot bronze statue of George Washington at Prayer at the Freedoms Foundation vividly portrays the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man in which the heritage of Pennsylvania Freemasonry is imbedded. Robert E. Deyoe, the R.W.G.M. in 1966, authorized the statue to be sculpted by the world-renowned artist-sculptor, Donald DeLue, of Leonard, NJ, to stand at the entrance to The Congressional Medal of Honor Grove at the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

Bro. Deyoe said: "It was at Valley Forge that Bro. Washington and the remnants of his army suffered through the bitter winter of 1777-78 in order to obtain freedom. The heroic spirit and devotion to freedom which burned in the hearts of Bro. Washington's Army must again be aroused in the hearts of our people...."

At the Dedication on Sept. 9, 1967, the Chairman of the Directors of the Freedoms Foundation proclaimed: "... that all the world may come to see the devotion which we hold for George Washington, the Father of our Country, and may God bless the Masons of Pennsylvania, who have made all this possible."

During 1976 when the nation was celebrating the Bicentennial, Pennsylvania Freemasons held four Bicentennial Day Ceremonies, the last of which was at the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. Despite the worst October storms in history to that time, John L. McCain, R.W.G.M., led more than 1,000 persons in a wreath-laying at the statue. The howling gales and sheets of rain on Oct. 9 forced ceremonies to be moved inside. Fortunately, later the rain paused to permit the wreath-laying.

A quarter of a century after the original dedication, Pennsylvania Freemasons refurbished the statue and on Sept. 5, 1992, R.W. Grand Master Edward H. Fowler, Jr. and the Grand Lodge officers conducted well-attended re-dedication and wreath-laying ceremonies. At that time, Grand Lodge had an audio wayside display installed that provides visitors with a taped message about Bro. Washington.

Our Monuments:
Washington at Prayer/ The National Memorial Arch/ Friend to Friend
Freemasons Pavilion and Monument/ Benjamin Franklin-Craftsman