A Note from the Chairman of the Life Guard Society of Historic Mount Vernon
It is my pleasure to invite you to the Life Guard Society’s Fall Gala Dinner at Mount Vernon. That evening we will celebrate the 200th anniversary—to the day—of the Marquis de Lafayette's October 17, 1824 visit to Mount Vernon to pay his respects at the tomb of George Washington.
I hope you will join us for cocktails and a black-tie seated dinner, enjoying the same view of the Potomac that George Washington loved so much. After dinner, the fun continues with an extra hour to mix and mingle over drinks and dessert, see old friends, make new ones, and revel in our good fortune to experience the sheer magic of Mount Vernon after dark, and for such a worthy cause. If you cannot join us, I hope you will consider making a contribution to support Mount Vernon’s landmark preservation project to safeguard the Mansion’s original building fabric and ensure its structural integrity for generations to come.
Kim David
Chair, the Life Guard Society of Historic Mount Vernon
Washington Taking Command of the American Army
On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress gave birth to the Continental Army, a force forged to stand against the might of Britain in the struggle for freedom. With steady hands, George Washington was chosen to lead this new army, guiding it through the fires of revolution. Just months later, in October, the Continental Navy rose, a fleet of hope upon the waves, set to challenge the British navy and safeguard the fledgling nation’s soul, cutting off the lifeblood of its enemy.
Join us this October for a gala to celebrate George Washington’s command over our new nation’s army and the birth of America’s armed forces.
"Washington Taking Command of the American Army. At Cambridge, Mass. July 3rd, 1775," by Currier & Ives, 1876.
"No estate in United America is more pleasantly situated than this." – George Washington
Photos from Past Life Guard Events
The Marquis de Lafayette, George Washington, and the American Revolution
The young Marquis arrived in America at the age of 19, ready to serve the cause of liberty in the American Revolution. He quickly became part of Washington’s military family, and, over the years, their relationship grew to that of a father and his adoptive son.
George Washington met the 19-year-old Marquis de Lafayette on August 5, 1777, less than a week after the Continental Congress appointed the young Frenchman to be a volunteer Major General in the Continental Army.
Lafayette was assigned to serve on Washington's staff. Lafayette, one of the richest young men in France, left his home country on March 25, 1777, filled with desire to fight against the British in the American Revolution. He would become a valued member of General Washington's close-knit military family.
The Life Guard Society
The Life Guard Society of Historic Mount Vernon draws its inspiration from an elite group of 150 officers responsible for ensuring the safety of George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
Today, the group is dedicated to generously supporting the mission of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. Membership in the Life Guard Society is not considered an honorary role, but rather a call to action - members give generously of time, talent, and resources to help with a wide variety of signature projects focused on Mount Vernon's mission for preservation and education.
Mount Vernon Thanks Our Event Sponsors
Aide-De-Camp
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher P. Aldredge
Catherine M. and Frederick H. Waddell
Lieutenant Colonel
Roger W. Ferguson, Jr. and Annette L. Nazareth
Anne Neal Petri and Thomas E. Petri
Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association has owned and maintained George Washington’s Mount Vernon for more than 160 years.
Regent
Anne Neal Petri
Regent
Wisconsin
Vice Regents
Maribeth Armstrong Borthwick
Vice Regent for California
Ann Haunschild Bookout
Vice Regent for Texas
Virginia Dawson Lane
Vice Regent for South Carolina
Laura Peebles Rutherford
Vice Regent for Alabama
Susan Marshall Townsend
Vice Regent for Delaware
Liz Rollins Mauran
Vice Regent for Rhode Island
Ann Cady Scott
Vice Regent for Missouri
Sarah Miller Coulson
Vice Regent for Pennsylvania
Andrea Notman Sahin
Vice Regent for Massachusetts
Catherine Hamilton Mayton
Vice Regent for Arkansas
Margaret Hartman Nichols
Vice Regent for Maine
Helen Herboth Laughery
Vice Regent for Wyoming
Catherine Marlette Waddell
Vice Regent for Illinois
Lucia Bosqui Henderson
Vice Regent for Virginia
Mary Lang Bishop
Vice Regent for Oregon
Elizabeth Medlin Hale
Vice Regent for Georgia
Ann Sherrill Pyne
Vice Regent for New York
Hilary Carter West
Vice Regent for the District of Columbia
Karen McCabe Kirby
Vice Regent for New Jersey
Adrian MacLean Jay
Vice Regent for Tennessee
Sarah Seaman Alijani
Vice Regent for Colorado
Susan Brewster McCarthy
Vice Regent for Minnesota
Carolyn Sherrill Fuller
Vice Regent for North Carolina
George Washington's Mount Vernon
George Washington’s skill as a general helped secure our independence. His leadership as our first president shaped this new nation. His enduring legacy continues to inspire us.
After falling into disrepair following his death in 1799, this historic property was rescued by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. They opened it to the public in 1860. It is now the most visited historic home in America.
As a private non-profit organization, Mount Vernon does not accept government funds. On-site sales and donations allow us to pursue our mission to teach the world about George Washington and preserve his beloved home for future generations.
Life Guard Fall Event
Unable to attend? Please consider making a donation that helps preserve George Washington's home and legacy.
Sponsor | Tickets | DonateQuestions?
Please contact Bethany Kucia at [email protected] or 703-799-8642.