U.S. Grant is an undisputed hero of American history, having led the country in successful battle against Confederate forces and brought about the reunification of North and South, after which he served as a somewhat undistinguished but still well-meaning Republican president with a good track record (for the time) on civil rights.

So it makes sense to bestow him with various important honors, and brother, this is one important honor:

Fans of Ulysses S. Grant are campaigning for a promotion that would elevate Grant to a rank held by only two other former generals, George Washington and the World War I hero John J. Pershing — general of the armies of the United States, above even five-star generals.

Grant became the nation's first four-star general in 1866, after the Civil War. His supporters had hoped the posthumous promotion would come through in time for the 200th anniversary of Grant's birth, which is today [April 27].

No such luck. But there's no reason to stop trying:

A similar joint resolution on Grant's behalf was introduced last fall with bipartisan support. Two sponsors in the House are infrequent allies: Rep. Adriano Espaillat, a Democrat from Harlem who voted for former President Donald Trump's impeachment in 2019 and 2021, and Rep. Elise Stefanik, who voted against impeachment both times and became the No. 3 Republican in the House with Trump's endorsement.

Last week three of the sponsors of the Grant resolution — Senator Roy Blunt, a Republican from Missouri; Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio; and Representative Ann Wagner, a Republican from Missouri — wrote to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, asking for a review of Grant's record and "a determination as to the merits of a posthumous promotion." They argued that Washington's promotion in 1978 had the effect of "lowering the grade to which Grant was appointed in 1866."

Do it, Congress. Do it for Grant.

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