 The promotion was effective on July 4, 1976, the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence.Although Pershing accepted the rank in 1919 and technically had a date of rank that preceded Washington's, the new specified that no other officer of the United States Army should ever outrank Washington, including Pershing.Hence, effective date of rank notwithstanding, Washington was permanently made superior to all other officers of the United States Armed Forces, past or present.