Why was George Washington so respected and honored?

George Washington is the very symbol of America and all that she stands for. He helped the United States in many important wars such as the French and Indian war, but he was most influential in the American Revolution. He was the first Commander-in-Cheif of the Continental army, and the first President of the United States. Also during the 1700s slavery was very common, and very few were against the practice of slavery. George Washington however once wrote to a friend, "there is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do, to see a plan adopted for the abolition of slavery."