During the course of our family’s vacations and traveling around the country over the years, we often included going to see the homes of past Presidents, such as George Washington, and in more recent years a lot of Presidential Libraries, where many of the Presidents are buried.
On our most recent trip last month we visited 4 more Presidential Libraries and the graves of 3 Presidents and their spouses/families, and it got me to thinking about how many total homes, libraries, and graves of past Presidents I’ve seen.
Homes (15)–Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Van Buren, Polk, Lincoln, Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower (2), JFK.
Libraries (9)–Lincoln, FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, LBJ, Reagan, GHW Bush, Clinton, GW Bush.
Graves (10)–Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Jackson, Lincoln, FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, JFK, GHW Bush.
The first time I remember saying a silent prayer at one of their graves was when we visited Mount Vernon in the summer of 2016, because especially beginning with that election it seemed like our nation was hopelessly destined to continue the never-ending partisan wars that Washington warned us about in his farewell address.
Ever since that graveside prayer at Washington’s tomb, I’ve repeated a similar version at the tombs of Thomas Jefferson (even though it was pouring rain and I didn’t have an umbrella), Madison, FDR, GHW Bush, Truman, Lincoln, and Eisenhower.
In my silent prayer I thank them for their service, what they did for our country and the world, I thank God for having given them to us, and I share my concern for our country, and ask them and God to help me and my fellow Americans to live up to their example.
I can tell you that at each grave it has been a moving experience to stand only feet away from these great Americans, perhaps the most emotional one was GHW Bush because I had actually met him when I was in college, and the most meaningful to me was Lincoln because he’s my all time favorite President.
As soon as I was done with my short silent prayer each time, particularly at Lincoln’s tomb, I couldn’t help but feel a palpable vibe of “we’ve done our part, it’s up to your generation now, make us proud.”
Was that my prayer being answered, that quickly, or was it just my own internal sense of empathy for what these people had been through, done, stood for, and died for, that I shouldn’t be asking anything more of them now that they’ve given their last full measure of devotion? My gut tells me it was the latter, but who knows.
When we were at Eisenhower’s grave a few weeks ago there is a prayer hanging overhead that says “The Presidents Prayer” and the text is as follows:
“Almighty God, as we stand here at this moment, my future associates in the executive branch of the Government join me in beseeching that Thou will make full and complete our dedication to the service of the people in this throng and their fellow citizens everywhere.
Give us, we pray, the power to discern clearly right from wrong and allow all our words and actions to be governed thereby and by the laws of this land.
Especially we pray that our concern shall be for all the people, regardless of station, race, or calling. May cooperation be permitted and be the mutual aim of those who under the concept of our Constitution, hold to differing political beliefs–so that all may work for the good of our beloved country and for Thy glory. Amen”
Dwight D Eisenhower
One final note, it certainly wasn’t planned this way, but Eisenhower’s was the last grave we visited, and our future travel plans for the foreseeable future years probably won’t take us to any other Presidential sites or graves, but I’m glad it worked out that Ike’s was the last one we visited, and that it was on the same trip as when we saw Lincoln’s, and that Ike’s had that special prayer on display.
Now, it’s up to me and you to do our part, to make them proud. And if by chance you ever get to visit any of their final resting places as well, please do. You won’t regret it.
Perry Waag 
Thank you! 🙂
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Beautiful
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