Known Unto God: D.C. Chronicles Part 7

Tuesday afternoon we visited Arlington National Cemetery, site of over 300,000 graves of soldiers and their families. The beauty and peace of the cemetery washed over me as I thought about the courage and the honor of these men who had dedicated their lives to their country. After we walked around visiting the graves of men like John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert, Audie Murphy (the most decorated veteran of WWII), we went to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the 8th graders participated in a wreath-laying ceremony.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has the unidentified bodies of soldiers from WWI, the Korean War, and WWII. The body from the Vietnam War had recently been identified using DNA analysis and re-interred in his hometown. Because of DNA analysis, there will never again be a soldier only "known unto God," as the inscription on the Tomb says. The tomb is guarded day and night by an honor guard from the Army's 3rd Infantry. Watching the precision and perfection of these guards inspires a sense of awe and timelessness. The soldiers always take exactly 21 steps and pause for exactly 21 seconds during their turn at guard.

Hail to the Chief: D.C. Chronicles Part 6

I just got back from D.C./N.Y. I am so happy to be back! I can't wait to hang out with my friends. Sorry for not keeping up with the blogging. A combination of exhaustion and lack of internet. But we had a great trip and I'm going to update my blog in the next few days. (FYI: I have no idea what happened to Part 3, but I think I just misnumbered. Again, exhaustion.)

On Tuesday, we visited the White House. It was so cool knowing how much history had been made there and how even as we were there, decisions were being made a couple hundred feet away that impacted the whole world. It was especially fun chatting up the Secret Service guards around the rooms. Since they were guards not agents, no dark sunglasses and suits, but it was still amusing to ask them questions. Q: Is that a door in the hallways? A: I'm not allowed to say. Q: How many people work in the Secret Service? A: I'm not allowed to say. Q: How long did it take to do your background check? A: Two and half years, back to eighth grade.

Btw, on the way out of the White House, we noticed that the street was closed down. Pretty soon a cavalcade of black SUVs with men and guns hanging out the window started to drive by. Then we saw a limo and believe it or not, George W. Bush leaned forward from the back seat and waved to our group! Unbelievable!! The kids jumped up and down and screamed like it was a rock star. I am still smiling!!

Fiat Lux-D.C. Chronicles Part 5

Tuesday evening we took the "Illumination Tour," which features the main monuments along the Mall. We first went the the Vietnam War Memorial. There aren't really any words to describe how moving the monument is. It is something that really has to be experienced for oneself. I will add that this is the only monument that was designed to be touched, in order to draw the viewer in emotionally and physically

Next we visited the Lincoln Memorial. The state of Lincoln inside is huge and awe-inspiring. On either side of him, quotations from the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural are inscribed into the walls. Lincoln was a brilliant writer, who managed to combine moral truths, political philosophy, and a simple but sophisticated turn of phrase. He was a truly great man.

Then we visited the Korean War Memorial. I didn't get a good picture of it. All I have to say, is that the sculptor decided to blend the feautures five different races into the faces of the soldiers to creat some strangely alien looking statues. Another example of PC out of control.

Finally, we visited the WWII monument, only finished a couple years ago. My favorite features of the design were the opposing entry arches representing the Pacific and the Atlantic theatres. On the marble wall beneath, the names of all the battles in each respective theatre were inscribed. According to the guide, over 400,000 Americans died in WWII.

Mount Vernon-D.C. Chronicles Part 4

On Monday morning, we were able to visit George Washington's home, Mount Vernon. Although I had seen it before, I still was not prepared. Firstly, the house is beautiful in its own right and incredibly well-maintained. It is also situated on the banks of the Potomac. I could picture our first president relaxing on his back porch and taking in that amazing view. The day before, I had the impression of Thomas Jefferson as a man of many interests, Monticello only being one of many projects. George Washington, on the other hand, clearly loved his house and land, and that showed everywhere throughout Mount Vernon. I would chose Mount Vernon over Monticello, and George Washington over Thomas Jefferson any day.

Pocahontas-D.C. Chronicles Part 2

This afternoon, we went to Monticello (Little Mountain in Italian), the home of Thomas Jefferson. I was impressed by the complex character of our third president. He was an intelligent but conflicted man. I also learned that Monticello is the building on the back on a nickel! The estate was so beautiful and Virginia is amazing.




This morning we visited Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America. All the workers there were dressed up like the settlers. We did things like build a canoe, scrape hair off deer hide, braid rope, catch some z's on an Indian bed. All in all a great time. We also heard the REAL story of Pocahontas, who did save the life of John Smith but ended up married to John Rolfe (who created the tobacco industry) and she eventually moved to London and converted to Christianity.





What a great day! I can't wait for tomorrow!

Busted in Williamsburg-The D.C. Chronicles Part 1

Watcha gonna do when they come for you...

We're barely in town for a couple hours before Lisa gets busted by the local constable and gets put in the stocks. Luckily we got her out in time to board the bus and head for the hotel.

Me Jane

According to the magic book in the Sorcerer's Lair at California Adventure, my secret Disney identity is Jane from the movie Tarzan. I can deal with that. She's pretty cool for a girl who hangs out with gorillas and dates men wearing loincloths.