Vern Frykholm, a mainstay at the Northwest Colonial Festival, was recently selected to revive the role of the American forefather at an Independence Day event at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota in July. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Vern Frykholm, a mainstay at the Northwest Colonial Festival, was recently selected to revive the role of the American forefather at an Independence Day event at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota in July. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Sequim’s ‘George Washington’ selected for Independence Day event

SEQUIM — Vern Frykholm has appeared throughout the Puget Sound region as George Washington, portraying the first president in parades, at schools, for local festivals, and Veterans’ events.

This July, the Sequim resident will head east to Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, where he will portray Washington during Independence Day weekend, July 3-4.

Frykholm first appeared as George Washington in February 2012 at the Agnew-areaGeorge Washington Inn’s annual birthday tea for the founding father.

Since then, he estimates he has made more than 400 presentations to about 25,000 people.

Most of those have been in western Washington, though he appeared at the Historical Novel Society’s North America conference in 2019 near Washington, D.C. and made school appearances in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The opportunity to portray Washington at Mount Rushmore is a special honor, Frykholm said.

In 2015 he visited the monument on Independence Day to observe another Washington portrayer, Carl Closs of Pennsylvania, who has presented there for several years.

It was a highlight to meet with Closs and the other portrayers, Fritz Klein as Lincoln, Gib Young as Theodore Roosevelt, and Tom Pitz as Thomas Jefferson.

To improve his knowledge and understanding of Washington, Frykholm has read more than 50 books, and follows current research by historians of that era.

He also has visited many of the historical locations associated with the first president, such as his birthplace in Virginia, Mount Vernon; Williamsburg, Va., where Washington served in the colonial House of Burgesses; Valley Forge in Pennsylvania; and the sites of several battles from the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.

Frykholm most frequently appears in fifth and eighth grade classrooms — currently using Zoom.

“My goal is to educate, entertain, and inspire,” Frykholm said.

“I often present students with the challenges and problems Washington faced in his youth — the loss of his father at age 11, his family’s relative poverty as his widowed mother raised six children, and his lack of formal education. These were powerful factors in shaping Washington’s character.”

On his website, www.georgewashingtonspeaks.com, Frykholm is developing a series of videos which can be used in classrooms, to be followed by Zoom sessions to answer questions.

This would allow him to interact with classrooms beyond the Puget Sound region.

School presentations are done free of charge.

The website recordings are also accessible to the general public.

Frykholm can be reached at 360-460-9302 for more information.

________

Michael Dashiell is the editor of the Sequim Gazette of the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which also is composed of other Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News and Forks Forum. Reach him at editor@sequimgazette.com.

More in Life

PLAL Aritist of the Month - Ruby Beach and Destruction Island by Steve Deligan
Port Ludlow Arts League to host artist reception

The Port Ludlow Art League will host a reception… Continue reading

Photos by Katie Newton-Salmon
2024 Sequim and Port Angeles Equestrian teams got off to a great start during its first WAHSET competition, bringing home where they brought home nine first place wins. Top row from left: Katelynn Sharpe, Kennedy Gilbertson, Savanah Boulton, Celbie Karjalainen, Asha Swanberg
Bottom row left: Coach Misty Gilbertson, PA member Olivia West, Kenzie Winters, Lilly Meyer, Joanna Seelye, Taylor Lewis, Kiaja Johnson, Paisley Morris, PA member Zakara Braun, and coach Ady Crosby. Not pictured non-competing member Paige Reed and advisor Katie Newton.
HORSEPLAY: First high school equestrian event of the year for Sequim

SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL’S equestrian team had a “great first meet,” said coach… Continue reading

Emily Matthiessen/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Sequim Ballroom intern Brie Rocha follows instructor Werner Figar’s lead as he keeps an eye on his intermediate/advanced swing class.
Dancers work on moves during classes at Sequim schoolhouse

Beginners, intermediate students learn variety of ballroom styles

ISSUES OF FAITH: The courage of religious leaders

“JUSTICE, JUSTICE SHALL you pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20). The Jewish Bible, the Tanach,… Continue reading

Rev. Asha Burson-Johnson
Unity in the Olympics service slated

The Rev. Asha Burson-Johnson will be the speaker at… Continue reading

Jamal Rahman
Rahman scheduled for OUUF program

The Imam Jamal Rahman will present “Spiritual Insights and… Continue reading

The USS Argonaught stationed at Pearl Harbor and Brisbane, Australia during WWII.
BACK WHEN: The human cost of war hit the Peninsula in WWII

SEVENTY-NINE YEARS ago the end was in sight for World War 2.… Continue reading

A GROWING CONCERN: Make the most of the last weeks of winter

TODAY IS THE eve of Groundhog Day. Regardless if the furry rodent… Continue reading

Unitarian speaker slated in Port Angeles

The Rev. Terry Barrett will present “The Gift of… Continue reading

Tools for caregivers class set for Sequim

The public is invited to enroll in the Powerful Tools… Continue reading

Prayer gathering for peace slated

Bahá’is of Sequim and Port Angeles will host “Prayers… Continue reading