Caption
Washington at Valley Forge, 1928
Number
0645
Prompt
Snowflakes gently fall and accumulate on the branches of the trees and on Washington's shoulders. His breath appears as a faint, frosty puff in the cold air. The light filtering through the trees subtly shifts, creating a sense of passing time.
Body
The winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge was a period of intense suffering and training for the Continental Army. This stamp, issued for the 150th anniversary, captures the solemnity of that experience. The image of Washington kneeling in prayer is based on a painting by Henry Brueckner and has become a powerful, albeit likely apocryphal, symbol of his leadership and the army's endurance. The stamp served to remind Americans of the profound sacrifices made by the soldiers at Valley Forge, who emerged as a more disciplined and unified fighting force.