Don & Sandi at "home", back in the Stockton area.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Days 2 & 3 in D.C.

Hi.

Boy, have we been busy!   There is sooo much to see in DC, we may have to stay around an extra day or two.  Here is a quick run-down on what we were up to on Thursday and Friday.

-Holocaust Museum:  We spent about 3 hours taking the self-guided tour of the history and horror of the Holocaust...really overwhelming.
-Air and Space Museum:  Aircraft hanging from the ceiling, including Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis", probably my favorite artifact of any I've seen so far on this trip.   The Wright Brother's "Flyer" (first airplane) is also housed in the museum.
-U.S. Capitol:  We took a tour and had a chance to sit in the House chamber (but not in session again until November).
-Library of Congress:  What a beautiful interior...I think the most beautiful of all of the facilities we have seen on our 100-day adventure.   (And you get searched as you leave this building!)
-Supreme Court:  We didn't get to go inside as the Court was having the official "investiture" ceremony for new Justice, Elena Kagan; so the Court was closed to the public.  We did get to see Justice Kagan and Chief Justice Roberts as they came out of the front doors for their "photo op", following the ceremony.
-President Obama:  A special guest at the investiture was President Obama.  There was a lot of police activity around the front of the Court and the rumor was circulating that the President would be at the ceremony.  Well, he was at the private ceremony; and then when his entourage of vehicles left, they drove by the front of the Court.  So, we got to see him in a "blur" through the dark-tinted glass of his presidential limo...they sped by rather quickly, all 15 vehicles!  It was very exciting.
-Arlington Cemetery: We visited President Kennedy's grave, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  We were there for the "Changing of the Guard" ceremony...inspiring and moving.

Again, more photos than usual...but we have to share.

Take care.
Don & Sandi

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Washington, D.C. - Day #1

Hi.

Whew!  We spent the day viewing as many national monuments as our "50-something" bodies could handle.

We visited the:
-Washington Monument (we rode the elevator to the viewing windows at the top of the monument)
-Lincoln Memorial
-World War II Memorial
-Vietnam Veterans Memorial (including the original Memorial Wall, as well as the "Three Soldiers" statue, and the "Vietnam Women's Memorial" statue).
-Korean War Veterans Memorial
-Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
-Jefferson Memorial

Each of the memorials is so unique, majestic, and awe-inspiring...they are each breathtaking in their own way.   All three of the war memorials are very impressive in representing the individual and collective sacrifice of so many soldiers (men and women) who served our country.  Sandi and I both agree that the "Korean War Memorial" is the most unique and moving.

I have included more photos than usual for this day's blog entry...just couldn't help myself.

Take care.
Don & Sandi

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Hi.

Today we had a chance to have a very nice lunch-time visit with our niece Deanna, and her 1-year old daughter Allie.  (Husband Ray was at work at the Pentagon today.)  Ray, Deanna, and Allie just moved to the Washington, DC area a couple of months ago for Ray's new employment.  They have a lovely home in Virginia...it was great to visit!

Yesterday Sandi and I took a side "road trip" to West Virgina and visited Harpers Ferry, about 85 miles from our Maryland campground.  What beautiful country (even in the pouring rain)!

Our visit to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park was educational and fascinating.  (Quick history review:  In October, 1859, John Brown and 20 men raided the Harpers Ferry federal armory.  He wanted to seize the 100,000 weapons, primarily rifles, and use them to wage a battle against the South and free the slaves.  He was captured; and his plan failed with his execution by hanging just two months later.   However, his action is credited with focusing the nation's attention on the "moral issue of slavery", which led to the beginning of the Civil War 18 months later.  During the Civil War, the town of Harpers Ferry changed hands eight times between the Union troops and the Confederate troops.)

OK, end of the history review...but this was an amazing place to visit and walk through the streets where so much history took place.

Take care.
Don & Sandi

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Philadelphia

Hi.

On Saturday we went to Philadelphia and we had a very enjoyable time walking around Independence Square.

We started the day by viewing the Liberty Bell.  This symbol of freedom was very exciting to see; especially with Independence Hall directly behind it and viewable through large windows.  Independence Hall was a little difficult to see as it was covered in scaffolding.  They are working on refurbishing the clocks on the tower and also repairing/replacing some of the wood ledges in several places on the tower.

We then took a guided tour of Independence Hall.  We stood in the room where great men of history like Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, and many others debated and eventually signed the Declaration of Independence, and later the Constitution.  It was hard to get our minds around the fact that we were actually standing where they set into motion the creation of the "United States" of America.

In one of the wings of the Hall there were actual copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution used by some of the men during their debates regarding wording and philosophy.  (No photos allowed!)   A very impressive place to visit.  We really enjoyed seeing our American history "up close"!

We also found out that there is a "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier" from the Revolutionary War.  Thousands of soldiers are buried in mass graves in an area called "Washington Square".  A monument was built in 1954 to honor their extreme sacrifice for our freedoms.

We will now head to Washington, D.C. for a week (and more lessons in history).  Stay tuned!

Take care.
Don & Sandi

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