### February 21 On February 21, 1777, I was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Continental Army. It was an honor to join the fight for freedom and justice for all. I had already been a volunteer Aide-de-camp for General Washington for over a year before this promotion. This day happened to be my twenty-fourth birthday, so I celebrated by treating myself to an extravagantly expensive meal with some of my friends at a local restaurant. Here's a fun fact: the restaurant we ate at is still open today and is even listed in the National Register of Historic Places! After our meal, my friends and I decided to take a ride around town. We ended up at a local tavern where I challenged them to a drinking contest – which I unfortunately lost. All in all, it was a great way to celebrate my birthday and a huge step in my life towards a larger goal of leading our nation to freedom.