Just days after commemorating a visit from George Washington to Harmony, Washington’s Trail 1753 has been proposed as a ‘national historic trail’ in the United States House of Representatives.

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th introduced a bill last week directing the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study on the trail to nationally recognize it.

“I commend the work of local volunteers who have brought George Washington’s journey to life,” Kelly said. “This legislation builds upon their work for current and future generations to enjoy.”

Trail chairman Martin O’Brien said he founded the historic driving route to mark a 21-year-old Washington’s fateful journey to the former French Fort Le Boeuf — in present-day Waterford, Erie County — ahead of the French and Indian War.

“It’s a great thing for Washington’s very first diplomatic, public service and military activity to be recognized — and the fact that Washington came through Butler and Western Pennsylvania,” he said.

Running from Williamsburg, Va., through Butler County, Washington’s route is mapped by iconic road signs and informational markers thanks to O’Brien’s organization.

The efforts to nationally recognize it, though, would further help recognize and link sites such as Lake Erie, Moraine State Park, Point State Park and Colonial Williamsburg, according to O’Brien.

“It kind of links them all together and shares the economic impact that this historic route would have if it was recognized by Congress,” he said.

O’Brien said the organization has been working with Kelly for “quite some time” to get this accomplished.

“We’re really grateful to Congressman Kelly for doing this,” he said.

The bill was co-sponsored with bipartisan support, including Rep. Summer Lee, D-12th; Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-14th; Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-15th; and Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-17th — all of Pennsylvania.

Rep. Alex Mooney, R-2nd, of West Virginia, also is a co-sponsor.

But O’Brien emphasized the proposed feasibility study is only the first step in dedicating the trail.

“Once Congress votes on having this feasibility study made, the National Park Service will do a study and then return it to Congress,” he said. “Even if they don’t recommend it, Congress is still free to go ahead and pass the bill declaring it a national historic trail.”

The organization attempted “several years ago” to have its own study done by the National Park Service, according to O’Brien, but was ultimately unsuccessful in recognizing it as a national historic trail.

But the proposal in the House has helped breathe new life into the efforts.

“It’s very exciting,” O’Brien said.

He said the trail represents “one of the most overlooked historic incidents” in Washington’s life, referring to a fateful encounter near Connoquenessing Township.

“A Native American who was sympathetic to the French shot at George Washington at close range,” O’Brien said, “and missed.”

Not only did the trail shape young Washington’s destiny, he said, but the ultimate destiny of the nation as well.

“Imagine what would have happened — where the history of the United States would be — if Washington had been killed,” O’Brien said.