Washington and Lee were both proud sons of Virginia.
Both men were brave, intelligent and resourceful.
Both men were relatively a-political.
Both were generals leading armies in a revolutionary war.
Both men were beloved by their troops.
Both men were slave owners in an era of slavery
Lee won most of his battles, Washington lost most of his.
Washington won his war, Lee Lost his war.
Washington received financial and military support from
the French.
Lee fought on alone, with no foreign support or recognition-
Often the odds against him were two or three to one.
Washington, as a subject of King George the third,
was a traitor to that allegiance and would have been hung had he lost.
Lee, as a citizen of Virginia, was loyal to his home state.
It is an active question whether states have a right to secede.
Lee and his officers were never tried for treason.
The case against them was weak, that’s why.
We honor Washington because he won his revolution.
We dishonor Lee because he lost his revolution.
Lee’s decision to surrender rather than resort to guerrilla warfare
was a major factor in healing the wounds of a hard war
Both these men command my honor and respect.