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In 1921, the US State of Virginia gifted a statue of George Washington to the United Kingdom to be erected at Trafalgar Square, London. What unusual complication did the gift reportedly present?

Answer: George Washington had declared that he would never set foot in Britain. As a result, in addition to the statue, Virginia sent some American soil to be placed on the base of the statue. Therefore, it was argued, the United States’ first president would always be standing on American ground.

Source: Barmy Britain by Jack Crossley

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