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Friends of the Washington Statue (FWS)

Celebration

First Lady of Virginia and Honorary Chair of Friends of the Washington Statue, Suzanne S. Youngkin; Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin unveiling the restored Statue of George Washington in front of the National Gallery.
FWS Chairman & President, John D. Gerber; The Right Honorable Lisa Nandy MP Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport; Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of the City of Westminster, Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg; Associate Vicar for Ministry of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Reverend Andrew Woodward; The Honorable Warren Stephens, US Ambassador to the Court of St. James; Mrs. Harriet C. Stephens; The Right Honorable Baroness May of Maidenhead, Theresa May, Former Prime Minister of the UK; The Right Honorable Lord Peter Mandelson, UK Ambassador to the USA; First Lady of Virginia and Honorary Chair of Friends of the Washington Statue, Suzanne S. Youngkin; Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin; and The Right Honorable Stephen Doughty MP, UK Minister of State for Europe, North America, and Overseas Territories in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
The Honorable Warren Stephens, US Ambassador to the Court of St. James; Mrs. Harriet C. Stephens; Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner; First Lady of Virginia and Honorary Chair of Friends of the Washington Statue, Suzanne S. Youngkin; Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin

Celebration

Friends of the Washington Statue has achieved several major milestones for our Project.  We came together around a very successful rededication ceremony held in London on June 18, 2025. This success was only possible because of the generosity and support of our dedicated FWS donors, project partners, board of directors, and volunteers who contributed greatly to this historic initiative.  
 
Ongoing activities continue around raising funds for the endowment, and the twin time capsule. Please donate to support this final push of our project.  
 
We are grateful for your gracious support!
 
GOVA-FLOVA
Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin and First Lady of Virginia Suzanne S. Youngkin standing in the Capitol of Virginia in front of the marble statue original of George Washington by Jean-Antoine Houdon.
John Gerber, Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin, UK Consul General Jude Muxworthy, The First Lady of Virginia Suzanne S. Youngkin, George Washington, Michelle Olson, Chris Olson, Susan Gerber.

Thanksgiving Reception - November 2024

“As Thanksgiving provides a moment to focus on gratitude, First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin and Governor Glenn Youngkin joined the nonprofit Friends of the Washington Statue to celebrate the planned restoration of the George Washington statue in London’s Trafalgar Square — a powerful symbol of the two nation’s ‘special relationship’ and shared values. 

As America prepares for the 250th anniversary of independence and various commemorations take shape, the 2025 rededication of this important icon reminds us of George Washington’s lasting influence as the “Father of Our Country” and an Englishman who is revered by all.

Virginia is proud to honor his legacy and foster the partnerships that connect us across borders.”

– Excerpt from the First Lady’s Feature in the Spirit of 74 Newsletter (November 2024)

FWS will raise private funding for the Project in a manner that it may be given, like the Washington Statue, as a gift from the Commonwealth of Virginia to the People of Great Britain and Ireland. FWS expects to undertake a broad fundraising initiative and use this rare opportunity to educate people throughout the world, informing and inspiring future generations, about the nature of Virginia’s gift so prominently displayed in London’s central square and the “Special Relationship” which inspired it.

FWS will emphasize the ancient friendship, strong alliances, and close cooperation between the US and UK – possibly also taking this opportunity to recognize some of the highlights of the “Special Relationship,” especially those with Virginia:

  • the 210th Anniversary of the Treaty of Ghent;
  • the shared ideals and principles which are the “common inheritance” of the US and UK – e.g., including among others the individual rights and love of liberty which led to the Magna Carta, Habeus Corpus, Trial by Jury, and English Common Law and ultimately to the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights in the US Constitution, etc.;
  • the eight wars the US and UK have fought in together “side-by-side” since Virginia’s gift in 1914 – i.e., World War I, World War II, North Atlantic Alliance, Korean War, Persian Gulf War, War in Iraq, War in Afghanistan, Global War on Terrorism, etc.;
  • George Washington as a son of Virginia (born an Englishman), American Founding Father, military commander, and statesman; and
  • Virginia’s own “special relationships” with Great Britain and Ireland – e.g., Jamestown as Great Britain’s 1st Colony in America (1607), among others.

FWS expects this gift and the related unveiling, rededication, and celebration(s) in London in the summer of 2025 will be a fitting and gracious lead up to the 250th Anniversary of American Independence in 2026.

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