Day 7 - Washington DC

The very fame of our strength and readiness would be a means of discouraging our enemies; for tis a wise saying, that "One sword often keeps another in the scabbard."  The way to secure peace is to be prepared for war.  They that are on their guard, and appear ready to receive their adversaries, are in much less danger of being attacked than the supine, secure and negligent. - Benjamin Franklin

Another full day in Washington DC!  This is our last day here so we are going to see as much as possible.  It is cold and overcast today with spitting rain so you will see a lot of umbrellas.  We started the day by visiting the Pentagon Memorial, then off to Arlington National Cemetery.  After lunch we will ascend to the top of the Washington Monument, then off to the National Achieves and the White House.  As we leave Washington DC later this afternoon, we will drive past the Avenue of the Embassies and, if we have time, stop by the National Cathedral.

This may be Ms Calvert’s favorite - the Pentagon Memorial.  She is instructing the class on the events of September 11, 2001, explaining that this Memorial is not only for those who died in the Pentagon, but also those who died in the plane.

It was raining, so almost everyone had an umbrella.  It’s a good thing Nick, Austin and Thomas had umbrellas.  Well, at least Nick and Thomas had umbrellas!

The Memorial was designed to be used like park benches where a person might sit, think and meditate on the tragic events of September 11^th.  These benches look like the tail of a jet airplane with some of the benches facing toward the Pentagon and some facing directly away from the Pentagon.  Inscribed on the edge of the bench either facing toward the Pentagon or away from it is a name on one individual who died on that fateful day.  There is one bench for each person who died, either in the Pentagon or on the airplane and they are organized from the youngest person to the oldest person.

The benches that face the Pentagon are the names of the passengers that were on the airplane, symbolizing that the last thing they saw was the Pentagon straight ahead of them.  The benches that face away from the Pentagon are the names of the workers and military personnel that worked in the Pentagon, symbolizing that the last thing they saw was an airplane crashing into their building.  It was on this side of the Pentagon that the plane crashed.

Next, we went to Arlington National Cemetery to pay our respects for those brave soldiers who gave their lives that we can enjoy our freedoms today.

JFK gravesite with the eternal flame.

We were privileged to see the changing of the guard.  These specially trained military personnel guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 24/7 and they change the guard every hour.

The changing of the guard.

The new guard is going to his post.

After the changing of the guard, we walked to the Challenger Memorial to do a wreath laying ceremony.  These four young ladies were very honored to participate in this ceremony.

As we were walking down the path to exit Arlington National Cemetery, we heard the sound of horse hoofs walking on pavement.  Coming up the street was a horse drawn wagon that had a casket in the back and three empty horses pulling the wagon.  The horses with no rider signifies that this individual might have fought in three campaigns.  One horse for each campaign.

After lunch, we had 1:30pm tickets to go up the Washington Monument.  The wind was blowing and it was spitting rain so you can see a parade of umbrellas. 

Cory and Nick at the top of the Washington Monument.  It has narrow hallways with two small windows on each side of the monument so you can see outside.

This is the view of the Capitol from on top of the Washington Monument.  If I remember correctly, Danny Lee told me that the cap on the very top of the monument is made out of aluminum. I would think that were be like a lighting rod!

They try to cram as many people in the elevator as possible.  The ranger said if you can see your feet, we can get more people in the elevator.  It takes 70 seconds to get to the top.

There were a few more essential stops to make before we left Washington DC.  We needed to see the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution and the Bill of Rights which are housed at the Archives of the United States of America Building.  It was great to see the actual signatures of Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, etc. We couldn’t take pictures inside so we snapped a few photos on the steps of the National Archive building. 

There are two statues, one on each side the building with one of these sayings under each statue:

Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty.

The Heritage of the Past is the Seed that Brings Forth the Harvest of the Future.

Last stop in Washington DC, the White House.

It is hard to get a group picture with the limited space and other people walking in front of you, but we managed to get a couple of pictures.  This one is for the Acorn Newspaper in Camarillo, to show that we were at the White House.

This is a photo without the newspaper, but it was difficult getting everyone in the picture.  I didn’t realize that I cut the right side off of Jordan till I was viewing the pictures on the computer.  Sorry Jordan.  Hope somone took a better picture.

After we went to the White House, we took a bus tour down the Avenue of the Embassies and stopped by the National Cathedral, but since it was closing at 5:00pm (we got there at 4:50pm) we couldn’t go in.  This will give me a reason to return to Washington DC in the near future. 

We continued our travels through Maryland and into Pennsivalia, stopping for dinner at a Dutch Smorgasbord called Mountain Gate (which is located not far from Camp David) and then onto Gettysburg.  It is late and we have to get up early in the morning to tour this historic civil war battlefield. 

In closing, let me say that it is my belief that our Founding Fathers were men of God and were inspired from on high to write this constitution and form this government.  They were a unique group of men that came together at just the right time in history.  I do not believe this was a coincidence or luck.

President John Adams captured this feeling in the closing words of his Inaugural Address, “And may that Being who is supreme over all, the Patron of Order, the Fountain of Justice, and the Protector in all ages of the world of virtuous liberty, continue His blessing upon this nation and its Government and give it all possible success and duration consistent with the ends of His providence.”

Day 6 - Mount Vernon and Washington DC

It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution. 

 -  James Madison, Federalist Number 37

Sorry- this blog is a day late, because the hotel last night in Alexandria, VA lost it's internet yesterday and we couldn't get this information out to you.  So, tonight I am doing two blog posts.  We had another very busy day (this was written yesterday, but posted today) with an extra early start (we left the hotel at 7:15am) because we headed to Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington.  Before I begin, however, we want to say Happy Birthday to Mia Vidal – she turns 14 years old today!

We arrived at Mount Vernon and the weather was threatening rain.  We viewed the introductory film and then walked the grounds to the residents.  As we entered the house it started to drizzle and the tour only took about 15 minutes and by that time is started to rain more heavily and wind started to blow.  These were the only pictures that I was able to take due to the rain.

Jacob poses for a picture at the entrance to Mount Vernon.

Anton didn’t want to get wet has he walked the beautiful grounds with Washington’s residence behind him.

George Washington’s grave is on the right side.

George Washington knew that religion is essential to the moral fiber of the country so in the museum there was a church bench with a short film on his thoughts on religious teaching. Washington loved freedom, liberty, and individual responsibility.  He warned, “The United States came into existence as a Nation, and if their Citizens should not be completely free and happy, the fault will be intirely their own.”

After leaving Mount Vernon (fairly wet) we drove back into Washington DC and since we saw the Viet Nam Memorial only in the dark, it was decided to see it during the day.  So, the bus driver dropped us off in front of the Lincoln Memorial and we walked the path to the Viet Nam Memorial.

Walking past the Lincoln Memorial.

 

Famous statue of the Viet Nam soldiers, notice how young they look.  Many of them are only four years older than Nick, Michelle, Amanda and Nathan.

Ms Calvert is instructing her students and is explaining the meaning of the symbols by the soldiers name.  Fallen troops range from 1959 to 1975.

Richard is doing a “rub” of one of the names onto paper.  You would put the paper over the name and rub it with a pencil.  The name would be highlighted on the paper.

We then walked to the Capitol for a photo of the class on the Capitol steps.  We had tickets to tour the Capitol so we went through security to enter the building.

Inside the Capitol there is the Hall of Statues and each state choices two individuals to represent the state.  The criteria is that these individual have to be deceased and have contributed to the culture, history, and advancement of the people. Everyone liked one of the Hawaii statues - King Kamehameha.

Our statues from California are Father Junipero Serra.

Our other statue that represents California is of Ronald Reagan.

Looking up at the top of the Rotunda.  We didn't get much time to take many pictures so I was clicking away as fast as I could. Do you see George Washington in the painting?

This was our tour in the House of Representatives Hall with statues that line the walls.

In the center of the Capitol on the bottom floor there is a star which represents the exact center of Washington DC.  Washington DC was planned and designed with the Capitol as the center of the city with all roads spreading from the Capitol center. The Capitol Building has no North, South, East or West indication and no street address because it is the exact center of the city.

Now, we were off to see the Library of Congress so we walked through the underground tunnel.  You can see how beautiful it is on the inside this historic building.  There was a saying inscribed above one of the doorways:

Reading Maketh A Full Man

Conference a Ready Man

And Writing an Exact Man

One of the other sayings were, “Science Is Organized Knowledge.”

Michelle and her mother pose by the banister inside the Library of Congress.

As we left the Library of Congress we walked past the Supreme Court Building and since we may not have time to see it tomorrow, I took the opportunity to photograph the only volunteers in our group that were willing to stop, Mrs. Valdivieso and Tyler.  Everyone was hungry and we were headed for dinner.  This is the only picture I took of the Supreme Court.

After dinner we drove to the Jefferson Memorial which sits on the Potomac River.  It was getting cold and the wind started blowing off the river.  We walked around Thomas Jefferson many times.  Did you know the back of his robe rests on a column of corn and tobacco signifying  his love of farming?  He is also holding a rolled paper in his left hand, I can only imagine that would be the Declaration of Independence. 

Light was fading so this was the only picture I got of the group with the Jefferson Memorial in the background.

We drove to the Iwo Jima Memorial and as you pass the memorial the road bends to the left and if you slowly drive by, it appears that the flag is actually being raised by the soldiers.  At one angel, the flag pole appears vertical.  Inscribed in the marble is a tribute to the brave soldiers who fought in the battle for Iwo Jima, “Uncommon Valor Was A Uncommon Virtue.”

We’ve had only one casualty so far, Taylor tripped on some of the stairs at the Lincoln Memorial last night.  She has had the best possible care from Mrs. Mendoza, Mrs. Forsell, Mrs. Brewer and Ms Calvert.  As you can see, she has a brace and crutches, but she has great friends that love and help her and I am confident that she will recover shortly.

Another night has passed and it is time to sign off and start the second blog describing todays' activities.  Good night.

Day 5 - Washington DC

The science of government is my duty to study . . . I must study politics and war, that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.  My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain. - John Adams, 1809 

It has been another busy day in Washington DC.  Before I begin, I want to wish my dad a Happy Birthday.  He turned 89 years old today and looks great – he is the patriarch of our family and has always been the one that my brothers and sisters have looked to for advice, counsel and direction.  He is a great dad, a wonderful grandpa and great-grandpa, and a terrific example on a successful marriage.  My dad and mom have been married 63 ½ years and going strong.  Maybe by next year I can beat him in golf, but I doubt it!  Hope you have had a great day dad, we love you.

Our first stop today was the World War II Memorial, after which we were on our own to tour the Smithsonian Museum of our choice.  We then walked as a group and toured the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and then took the bus to the Ford’s Theater and Museum where Abraham Lincoln was shot.  After dinner we visited the Korean War, Lincoln and Viet Nam Memorials.  The bus was scheduled to meet us at the Albert Einstein statue for our ride back to the hotel.

 

This is the medallion that greets you at the entrance of the World War II Memorial.

The Memorial is surrounded by pillars with a state or territory name etched into the front or the pillar.  On one side, the Memorial recognizes the Pacific theater of conflict and on the other, the European theater of conflict.  The memorial lists all the major battles that were fought. 

Nathan and Mia are proud to be from California.

You can always see the Washington Monument when inside the WWII Memorial.  Here Cory, Austin, and Jacob pose for a photo.

We didn’t go as a group to see the Smithsonian Museums, it would be too difficult to keep everyone together – Nathan and I went to the Museum of Natural History with Austin Stack and his dad.  Since we didn’t go as a group the only pictures I have in the museums were of Nathan and Austin.

For you jewelry lovers, here is the Hope Diamond.  I don’t know the kid who has his/her face pressed up against the glass, but I try to wait for people to get out of the way before I take a picture. 

With the crowds, it's difficult.

I always loved elephants so I couldn’t pass up this picture.  We were suppose to find "Martha," the last passenger pigeon, but she was not on display.  Lewis and Clark, during their historic expedition in 1804, observed that flocks of passenger pigeons were so large that they darkened the sky.  Now they are extinct.

The museum had a special exhibit for viewing live butterflies.  We walked into a room that was  85°F and humid and there were all kinds of butterflies in the exhibit.  They told us we could stay as long as we wanted, but before we left, we had to make sure no butterflies were hanging onto us.  We couldn’t touch the butters, but on occasion, they would land on us.

This is a Caligo eurilochus, or Owl Butterfly from Central and South America.

This is a Heliconius erato from Central and South America.  I have no idea what these Latin names

mean, but they do sound cool!

When we finished with the Natural History Museum, we walked to the National Museum of American History where we saw the Berlin Wall, Dorothy’s Slippers, Abraham Lincolns top hat and all the gowns worn by the First Ladies, etc.

We had a very sobering experience at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.  No cameras are allowed inside.  They gave us an Identification Card booklet with the name and history of a Holocaust person.  They packed us into an evaluator, symbolic of how the Germans packed Jews into boxcars and sent us upstairs.  When the doors opened a film started, telling about one of the German concentration camps, Dachau, a camp located a short distance from Munich.  The film showed emaciated bodies of dead people stacked against a one story brick building.  I recognized the building!  In the summer of 1976, I traveled through German with my parents to visit my dad’s aunts and uncles in Berlin.  On the way we stopped in Munich and toured Dachau.  That brick building was the museum that housed the pictures and artifacts from Dachau.   It was the first time I saw the Holocaust and those images have been burned in my mind. I remember the sign outside the camp that read,

Never Again, Never Again.

We went to the Ford’s Theater and Museum, the place where Abraham Lincoln was shot.   Hunter is checking the time on his cell phone as the statue is checking the time with a pocket watch.  Technology has really changed.

They are standing with Abe, but they have no idea that Ms Calvert snuck into the picture.

Theater was very important to Abraham Lincoln.

A picture of Seth with the Abraham Lincoln’s reserved booth above.

This is the Korean War Memorial with faces etched into the wall looking at the soldiers that are on patrol. 

This depicts a patrol of US soldiers that is opposite the etched wall.

A poignant reminder that our freedom has been paid by the sacrifices of others that came before us.  Do you recognize any of the people who’s reflection is below the wording? They are the recipients

of that sacrifice.

It was getting pretty dark by the time we saw the Lincoln Memorial, but we did get a few good pictures.  Here is Mrs. Valdivieso with her son, Tyler.

Austin, Cory, Thomas and Hunter at the feet of Abraham Lincoln.

It was really dark by the time we entered the Viet Nam Memorial so this was the only picture I got.

The Albert Einstein Statue. They wanted to get a picture sitting on Albert's lap.

Well, it is pretty late so I better get to bed.  We are touring Mt. Vernon tomorrow so we have to get up early. Tomorrow we will continue our tour of the Capitol and other sites. Hope all of you are doing well - I bid you goodnight.