Day 17:
We started out by going to the Air and Space Museum. We only had time to go to the bigger one, which is just outside of the city by Dulles airport. It was really good, and really interesting. We took a little guided tour, which was great.
I have a new favorite fighter jet, if that interests anyone. It is the XF-35, which is currently undergoing tests and going into production. It is the most modern fighter. It takes off in less than 700 feet, flies supersonically, and can land vertically using a huge fan thingy (yes, that is the technical name). It's pretty much awesome. And so I had my picture taken with it!
We went up 7 stories to the observation deck, which is basically a replica of an air traffic control tower. It was really weird to look down through the glass from that height!
We went back to the hotel for a while, and then drove back into the city.
We went to the Law Enforcement Memorial. It is 2 long walls with the names of fallen officers etched into them. We were able to look up the names of some officers from our area, and take etchings of their names.
The very bottom name on the wall in this picture is the name of a CHP officer from Oakland.
The memorial is made up of 2 walls that are opposite of one another. This is one of them. The names are etched on the cement wall on the right in this picture. There are sculptures of lions watching over their cubs around the memorial, with biblical verses or quotes written below them.
We went to the Capitol also:
We waited until it was dark to go to the other memorials.
We went to the Lincoln Memorial first:
And the Korean War Memorial:
There are 19 statues of soldiers walking through the grass in the middle of the memorial. It is really crazy the way they are lit at night. It looks like they are really walking through.
There is a wall with pictures etched into it. From what people were saying, you can't see the pictures nearly as well during the day. The flash is reflecting in this one, but the etchings showed up pretty well.
And then we went to the Vietnam Memorial:
It was also really powerful.
This is a statue dedicated to women serving in the war, and this part of it is for nurses. 8 nurses died while serving in Vietnam.
Day 18:
We started out going to Arlington National Cemetery.
JFK's tomb:
At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, they went through the ceremony to change the wreath. They played Taps at the end, which is always emotional.
There was a memorial service going on while we were there. We didn't see the actual service, but we saw the riderless horse walk by us.
We then went into the city again, and went to the Holocaust Museum. It was very powerful and very well done. There was no photography allowed, so we don't have any good pictures.
We finally got to Mt. Vernon, which is beautiful!
George and Martha Washington's tomb:
I didn't know that George Washington bred and popularized the use of mules as plow animals.
We are in Williamsburg tonight, and will be here for the next 3 nights. I am really looking forward to wandering around the town!
~Jenn
4 comments:
I have one word to say about your last two days....WOW! I got a little teary just looking at the pictures. What a nice blog. I am surprised that you are not dead tired from doing all that sightseeing. What a wonderful trip you are having.
Winnie and I are really tired tonight so this will be very short. I have been trying to figure out all of GeeGee's finances and he is helping me by sitting under my desk right in my way. We had the great escape today. I was gone to see GeeGee and Winnie ran out the garage door and turned left to go see Courtney. Winnie could not remember which house was Courtney's and ended up at the dead end. Papa was running as fast as he could to catch him, but did Winnie care? NO! Since then, he has stayed by my side at all times. Winnie, that is.
Now, Jeanne, don't worry that this will happen when Gracie is here. You have too many things to worry about!
Thank you so much for sending the wonderful blogs. We love them.
I am sure that you will have a wonderful time in Williamsburg. Think of me when you are there. That is where I want to go some day.
I am falling asleep and Winnie is long gone and still under the desk. I should leave him there since he was a bad boy today.
He is fine and Papa and I are fine too. I hope that you are all feeling better and running and jumping like you usually do.
Happy Day tomorrow.
Love and kisses from Winnie and
GaGa
Nice job, Jenn! Fabulous pictures! I enjoyed reading and seeing all you did in the last two days! We saw the monuments in the daytime in April... now we'll have to go back and see them at night! I hadn't thought about doing that! Great idea! Williamsburg is such a cool place. We were there 33 years ago so I'm sure it has changed somewhat over the years. I'd like to go again. We weren't there long enough to see very much of it. Can't wait to hear what you do while you're there!
sounds like you are having a great time....the blog is really cool and the pics are priceless
tell the fam I said hello
-shantell
ABE THE BABE! yes
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