What posthumous military rank did George Washington receive effective July 4, 1976?

George Washington received the posthumous rank of General of the Armies of the United States, effective July 4, 1976.

Congress passed Public Law 94-479 on January 19, 1976, as part of the Bicentennial observance. The law made the appointment effective on the anniversary date, giving Washington a permanent place at the top of the U.S. military hierarchy.

Washington had commanded the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and later served as the nation's first president. Congress had considered the highest military title for him during his lifetime, but the appointment was not completed then because he was not needed for active field service.

The title is distinct from the later five-star rank General of the Army. Washington's title was deliberately worded as General of the Armies of the United States and was intended to ensure that no U.S. military officer would outrank him. The honor was commemorative rather than a return to active duty.