Washington Monument – May 21, 2008

We popped onto the 8 am shuttle to downtown DC. We had a vague plan of what wanted to do in the 3 days in the downtown area. Memorials we the treat for today. We got of at Washington Memorial. As we were walking some other visitors gave us a tip and pointed where to start first to wait in line at the base of the memorial for tickets to the inside of the memorial. They also pointed out that was one of the key places for restrooms, another important fact.

Time slots were quickly gobbled up for the day. We picked up 11 am which left us plenty of time to see the other memorials in the area. On a map everything looks close together, within walking distance. It is in reality, but the distances are greater than it appears. The area is beautiful, well kept and inspiring. It was partly cloudy and sometimes warm, but mostly the jacket stay on.

We strolled over to the new World War II memorial first. This was very tastefully done with a walkway with bronze relief panels on either side telling the story of the Pacific and Atlantic campaigns. On the Pacific side the panels started with 12/7/1941 with families crowded in their living rooms around tall radios listening to the news of the war. The Atlantic side told of the Germans and the devastation Hitler had caused. Both side reflected the nations effort from the farmers who kept field full of grains to women who expended their motherhood responsibilities to work in factories supporting the war effort. Stan’s mom Alice worked in the American Chickle Co, your know the company that makes Chicklet gum. The factory had stopped their normal operations to pack sea rations for soldiers.

We strolled along the reflecting pool toward the Lincoln Memorial and watched families of geese and ducks teaching their little ones to swim. We took the path to the Vietnam Memorial first. I was stunned at the impact all the walls of names had on Stan and myself. This memorial really does capture the essence of the lives that were lost right to mind to the present. The wall is so shiny it can’t help but catch your own reflection as you walk through the panels. This was a long war from 1959 through 1975.

Bunches of school children filled the areas not really connecting to the moment or the reality of what those names were about. A docent was expressing his frustration with the young visitors to their supervisor because of the poor supervision by one of their chaperons. Rowdy kids didn’t seem to know the intent of the wall.

Then a quick stops to view Lincoln seated in his marble chair in stately elegance. More youngster’s learning history. One teacher lined his students on the steps and they were called on to recite prepared information about Lincoln and other historical fact. Other school groups sat in circles off to the side as teachers explained historical information.

As we were coming off the stairs a couple of larger helicopters circled overhead. We wondered who might be on board. The power ot the office of the President came to mind and the impact one person has on decisions made while in office.

Next to Lincoln was the Korean War Memorial. Large scale soldiers were depicted on patrol through the fields. One saying on the wall summed it up for all wars.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

We walked along the reflecting pool back to the Washington Monument. There are benches along the way to stop and rest a bit. The marble benches surrounding the monument fill up quickly as park rangers walk along and tell us the rules. No gum chewing, sharp objects, and the like. We are taken in groups of about 10-15 through security and then to ride the elevator up 500 feet to the top. This obelisk is a marvel. There is lots of history about how it was built as well as stunning views of the city on all four side. You could walk down the 800 or so steps on special tours. We enjoyed the elevator. It slowed down along the way to view the 195 memorial stones that were gifts from each stand and other countries and cities. This provided more insight into Washington’s key place in history.

There are not many obvious places to eat around the national center. We stopped at one place for a non-discript hot dog and veggie pita. Then on to the White House.

You can tour the White House is you set up security clearance well in advance. We took a few pictures through the fence and then walked across the street to the White House Visitor’s Center. More security. Stan’s pocket knife was held while we were inside, then returned on our departure. We watched a short movie about some of the key points of the White House, the decorations, galas, china selection and oval office. There were photo displays that overlaid many presidents and their families. It was well done and interesting.

The maps are easy to follow and we walked to the Metro (subway). Our legs, knees and feet really had a work out. We stopped at a Caribou coffee shop just outside the Metro to catch up on relaxation. Down the escalators to the Metro. It was a delight, clean, crisp with easy to follow directions. For $1.35 – $1.65 each we easily came back to our hotel.

Later we rode the shuttle back downtown for dinner. We had thought about the Mexican food restaurant, but stepping into to a roar of chatter from young professionals and a glimpse of the $25/plate entrees sent us out the door. We settled for Chinese food a couple of blocks away.

We rode the Metro back. It stopped at the Nationals Stadium, the new major league baseball team in Washington. Our hotel was a few blocks away. This neighborhood is emerging from decay into the next change. Boarded up gas stations, Wendys and other business sit next to high rise apartments being built on whole city blocks. A police officer on a bike waiting with his buddies at the 7-11, one of the only operating business, stopped to chat a bit. He wanted us to know the type of neighborhood we were in an to caution us. We had kind of figured that out, but good to know.