What honorary military rank did Congress posthumously give George Washington during the 1976 Bicentennial?

Congress posthumously gave George Washington the rank of General of the Armies of the United States during the 1976 Bicentennial.

The honor was authorized by Public Law 94-479, passed on January 19, 1976, and made effective on July 4, 1976. It restored Washington’s position as the highest-ranking military officer in United States history.

The title is easy to confuse with General of the Army, a five-star rank used by several senior American officers during and after World War II. General of the Armies is a distinct title associated with Washington and, later, John J. Pershing.

Washington had commanded the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and later became the first president of the United States. The 1976 action connected his military leadership directly with the Bicentennial’s commemoration of independence.