Upon arrive in Washington DC. Ms. Wood, Ms. Edwards, Kennedy and I took a bus drive of the city. The bus driver picked us up at the motel and after picking up everyone else we started our tour at the White House.
The White House is located on Pennsylvania Avenue. It is the home of the President of the United States. The White House was built between 1792-1800. Thomas Jefferson was the first President to move into the house. The White House was burned down during the War of 1812. The house had additions added to it throughout the years. The White House is officially owned by the National Park Service.
On the tour we also the opportunity to to stop by the Capitol building. Here is a picture of the exterior. For more on the interior of the capitol read tomorrow's blog.
Another view of the capitol.
Another stop made on the trip was the World War II Memorial. It is located on the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. It consist of 56 pillars that represent each of the states in the country as well as the territories that are controlled by the United States. There are two large archways that represent the Pacific and Atlantic Theaters of the War. There is a a display of stars those who died in World War II. The stars are located on the Freedom Wall. It has 4,048 stars. Each star represents 100 Americans who died in the war.
There are several quotes located around the monument.
"They fought together as brother-in-arms. They died together and now they sleep side by side.
To them we have a solemn obligation." - Admiral Chester A. Nimtz.
"Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941, A date which will live in infamy... no matter how long it may
take us to overcome this premeditation invasion, the American people, in their righteous might,
will win through to absolute victory." - Franklin D. Roosevelt.
"Battle of Midway June 4-7, 1942, They had no right to win. Yet they did, and in doing so they
changed the course of a war...Even against the Greatest of odds, there is something in the
human spirit - A magic blend of skill, faith, and valor - that can lift men from certain defeat to
incredible victory." - Walter Lord Author
"Today the guns are silent, a great tragedy has ended. A great victory has been won. The skies
no longer rain death - The seas bear only commerce. Men everywhere walk upright in the
sunlight. The entire world is quietly at peace." - General Douglas McArthur.
"Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be
repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices." -
President Harry S. Truman.
"The heroism of our own troops...was matched by that of the armed forces of the nations that
fought by our side....they absorbed the blows...and they shared to the full in the ultimate
destruction of the enemy." - President Harry S. Truman
Here is an example of the pillars. Maine is the first one.
Here is one of Ms. Edwards favorite pictures of the trip. She liked the way that it lined up with the Washington Monument, the American Flag, the World War II Memorial and the sunset.
Here is a picture of Kennedy and myself at the Maine pillar.
After visiting the World War II Memorial the bus took us to the Jefferson Memorial. If you look close enough you can see Jefferson standing in the middle of the picture.
The memorial is located in the West Potomac Park near the Tidal Basin of the Potomac River. It was built in 1937 and was designed by John Russell Pope; Eggers and Higgens.
Inside along with Jefferson are quotes around the inside of the rotunda. One of the quotes is excerpts from the Declaration of Independence. On another wall is a part of "A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom, 1777"
The monument was dedicated on April 13, 1943 (200th birthday of Jefferson)
After leaving the Jefferson Memorial we went over to the Lincoln Memorial. This was the last location that Ms. Edwards was able to use her camera for the night. Ms. Edwards wasn't able to get any picture of the Lincoln Memorial from away due to the sunlight going away.
The Lincoln Memorial is located on the National Mall. It was built in 1922. The first stone was put in place on Lincoln's birthday, February 12, 1914. William Howard Taft dedicated the memorial on May 30, 1922.
The memorial has 36 columns that represent the 25 US states and the 11 states that left the Union. Inside the memorial is statue of Lincoln. There is also written on one of the walls the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address.
As found at the site of the Lincoln Memorial is a inscription to the location that Martin Luther King Jr gave his famous speech "I Have a Dream." He delivered it on August 28, 1963.
Near the Lincoln Memorial can be found the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Three Soldiers Memorial (Vietnam), and the Vietnam Women's Memorial
After leaving the Lincoln Memorial area we went over to the FDR Memorial and the Iwo Jima Memorial. Ms. Edwards and I will write about these memorials when we have pictures to share.
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