“You should have … a clear understanding of the institutions upon which human liberty and individual freedom have depended, and the struggles to gain and maintain them.”
– George C. Marshall

When Secretary of State Marshall delivered these words at Princeton University in 1947, his focus was trained on the unfolding events of the times – the ongoing struggle to rebuild the economies and democracies of Western Europe after World War II, Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe and the yearning of Americans to get back to “business as usual” on the home front.

His caution was meant to grab the attention of a gathering of influential leaders as the nation entered the critical Cold War era. His message was clear: the price for peace is dear and the struggle to preserve that peace is an enduring one. History proves as much.

But Marshall’s words, like so many of his actions as a leader, were also trained on the future – a reminder to generations of leaders that liberty must be defended and that history rewards those who study and learn from it. They were directed at us.

When a small group of Loudoun County citizens stepped up to purchase Dodona Manor more than 30 years ago, they did so both to honor the man who lived there but also to create a space to share his legacy with the leaders of tomorrow. Our work today is possible because of those who stepped up to save General Marshall’s house, and that house is important not as a frozen depiction of his life but as a living monument to the enduring lessons of his long career of service.

The work to maintain Dodona Manor and create new ways to tell the Marshall story goes on – and we are deeply grateful to those who make it possible: our members, our sponsors, our donors and others who generously support our work. You make it possible for us to ensure a “clear understanding” of the past, today and into the future.

A “Clear Understanding” of the Past

Leadership Lessons That Last: Ethical Leadership in Action