My recent trip to Washington, D.C., was a journey through both the physical monuments of our past and the living, breathing aspirations of our future. The primary purpose of my visit was to participate with the Liberty Village team in a special reception and screening of the film Young Washington at the Kennedy Center.
To prepare for these events, I spent the morning visiting national monuments honoring our founders—the Jefferson Memorial, the Signers Memorial and the Washington Monument. Standing in those spaces provided a profound, quiet stillness that served as the perfect frame for the discussions that followed.
At the reception, hosted by Liberty Village CEO Dennis Leavitt, I was honored to join leaders like Senator Mike Lee, Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach, and executives from Angel Studios. During this time, I had the privilege of sharing my Journey to Liberty—Washington’s Final Testament project with them individually. The response was deeply encouraging. We discussed how this project—which utilizes music, narrative, and the Discovery Companion—fosters emotional resonance with our history. It was a delight to see these leaders recognize that this tool is not about dictating historical interpretation, but about creating a "springboard" for families, civic groups, and educators to discover meaning for themselves.
Seeing the Man Behind the Myth
The central event of the trip was the special screening of Young Washington at the Kennedy Center. While some critics have commented on its interpretive framework or thematic agenda, I believe the film did an outstanding job of what I understand is its primary objective: the humanization of a founding icon.
In my opinion, Young Washington succeeds precisely because it chooses vulnerability over perfection—a quality to which we can all personally relate. It portrays a young, ambitious, and flawed individual who pursues admirable goals despite a lack of experience, seemingly destined for failure, before being thrust into circumstances far beyond his maturity.
Why This Matters:
-
The Necessity of Struggle: The film presents Washington not as a marble statue, but as a young man who had to learn the hard way that character is forged through failure. This theme echoes throughout his life. After he was called to lead the Continental Army, he and the troops endured a series of devastating battlefield failures, paired with moments of undeniable providential intervention that kept the cause alive. The lessons he learned as a young officer were clearly the foundation for his resilience during the much darker days of the Revolution.
-
A Lesson for Today: By emphasizing his early missteps—such as his role in the spark of the French and Indian War—the film invites us to ask: How do we grow from our own failures?
-
The Providential Thread: When reflecting on the film, I am struck by how it illustrates the concept of "Providence." In Young Washington, it isn't portrayed through grand, supernatural displays, but through the quiet, relentless arc of his journey. It’s in his survival against all odds in the wilderness, the way his most public failures served as the "refining fire" for his future character, and the subtle, heavy sense of duty that seems to anchor him even when he is at his most vulnerable. It is the realization that his survival—and his eventual growth—were not mere coincidences, but pieces of a much larger, unfolding design.
I believe this film can be a wonderful catalyst for deeper conversation, particularly as we pose, consider, and discuss questions like the following in family and community settings:
-
How does witnessing Washington’s early errors change our perspective on his later achievements?
-
At what point does personal ambition align with the common good?
-
If we viewed our own "failures" as necessary preparation for future responsibility, how would that shift our outlook?
-
Can we see the same "refining fire" in Washington’s later command of the Continental Army, where his early lessons in defeat may have helped him steer the cause toward an unlikely victory?
-
How might recognizing the role of Providence in our own challenges change the way we persevere through them?
Watching Young Washington felt very much like seeing chapters 2-5 of Ron Chernow's Washington: A Life brought to the screen with a commendable degree of fidelity, even as the film navigates the inevitable constraints of a two-hour runtime. Naturally, the production takes certain dramatic liberties that diverge from the text in covering these formative years, yet these choices feel entirely within the justifiable prerogative of a filmmaker translating a massive historical record into a compressed visual medium. While the cinematic rendering captures the essential gravity and ambition of early Washington, it is Chernow’s absorbing and meticulously detailed book that ultimately delivers the full, immersive weight of Washington's life—a depth that rightly demands the 15-20 hours required to experience it in full. Having spent time with the film and book, I enjoyed both versions of the story immensely.
Synthesizing the Journey: Toward a Unified Future
As I reflect on my day in our nation's capital, less than a month before the 250th anniversary, I am struck by an opportunity. While we live in a time when many have turned away from the founding fathers, I also observed a profound desire to reconnect with the visceral foundations of liberty—those very real, human ideals of sacrifice, courage, and self-governance that shaped the lives and writings of our founders.
In my discussion with Senator Mike Lee, I was humbled by his support for my approach. He described the work as "genius"—a descriptor I respectfully attribute to the Divine Providence that has guided this project since its inception. My goal has always been to present our shared history in a way that is devoid of current political affiliations, designed instead to be helpful to anyone willing to listen, ponder, and engage in patriotic and respectful ways. It is not based on telling people what to think or believe; it allows each individual to discover meaning and application for themselves.
This journey in Washington is only just beginning. The interest expressed by those I met regarding how Journey to Liberty can fit within the framework of their programs for this semiquincentennial year is a testament to a wider hunger for true patriotism, respect and unity. We are at a moment where we can choose to build on what unites us rather than what divides us. Through projects like Young Washington and Journey to Liberty - Washington's Final Testament, we have a rare opportunity to participate in respectful dialogue and pass on the torch of our founding principles to the next generation.
I look forward to the developments these conversations will foster in the coming months, as we work together toward a more thoughtful, engaged, and appreciative commemoration of our nation’s history.
