The old dude on the left had to be the oldest veteran on this Memorial Day. He was a WWII Navy veteran.
Monday, May 30, 2005
The President Motorcade at Arlington Cemetary VA
Presidential motorcade on its way to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the annual Memorial Day ceremony, Arlington Cemetary, Northen Viginia.
Memorial Day Fifth day in DC
After two full days of museums, I guess I have had enough. So, I decided that it would be fitting and proper that I should spend Memorial Day at some of the memorials in the DC area. I really felt like Forest Gump when I just happen to be on the same road that the President's motorcade took to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetary. Yes, I can actually say that I've been less than 8 feet away from the most powerful man in the world. I was lucky enough to get off a couple of rounds, pictures that is, before the motorcade had disappeared into the cemetary. Unfortunately, Because of all the ceremonies everywhere, I was unable to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, JFK grave site, and the Vietnam Memorial Wall up close.
And that wasn't the end of what was to become a day filled with close encounters with celebrities. In less than an hour later, I found myself standing just a couple of feet away from the legendary Pat Boone at the Vietnam Memorial. It turns out that Pat was this year's special guess speaker at the Vietnam Memorial Ceremony.
Tomorrow, I leave Northern Virginia and DC and head for Sharpsburg Maryland.
And that wasn't the end of what was to become a day filled with close encounters with celebrities. In less than an hour later, I found myself standing just a couple of feet away from the legendary Pat Boone at the Vietnam Memorial. It turns out that Pat was this year's special guess speaker at the Vietnam Memorial Ceremony.
Tomorrow, I leave Northern Virginia and DC and head for Sharpsburg Maryland.
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Fourth day in DC, visiting some more museums
Sunday, May 30, 2005 began early. Coming through the thick walls of my room was the sound of the scores of bikers that have invaded this once quite small community of Manassas. All morning long, the air is filled with the sound of Harleys roaring up and down the streets of Manassas. Apparently, for the past several years, Vietnam veterans on motorcycles make this annual pilgrimage to DC for what has become known as Rolling Thunder. Rolling Thunder is where some 3000 bikers, mostly on Harley's, do a parade ride down Constitution Ave on Memorial Weekend. Even while I was on the Metro heading for DC, I saw scores of bikers riding in formation down interstate 66 towards DC.
As I came up from the underground area where I had unloaded from the rail, I was greeted with the warmth of a glorious day. The temperature was in the low seventies, sunny and not a cloud in the sky. One couldn't have had asked for a more prefect day to see the museums in DC.
My intend was to visit the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Museum of Natural History. Instead, I ended up seeing five. Starting with the Smithsonian Institute and ending with the Hirshhorn Museum. I found the National Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery of Art to be really cool.
I was a little disappointed with the National Museum of the American Indian. I had high hopes and was very excited about seeing it. But I found it to be lacking compare to some of the other museums. Still, it was ok, and I was, nonetheless, glad I was able to visit it.
In between museums, I got to see the parade of Rolling Thunder as it roared down Constitution Ave. I must admit, it was very moving. No pund intended.
My day at the museums ended around five in the afternoon. My feet were hurting like something fierce, and I was dead tired. I still had a long rail ride, and then another 12 miles by car just to get back to the room. I should sleep good tonight.
Tomorrow, it's to the outdoor memorials, the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial. It should be another long day filled with lots of walking.
As I came up from the underground area where I had unloaded from the rail, I was greeted with the warmth of a glorious day. The temperature was in the low seventies, sunny and not a cloud in the sky. One couldn't have had asked for a more prefect day to see the museums in DC.
My intend was to visit the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Museum of Natural History. Instead, I ended up seeing five. Starting with the Smithsonian Institute and ending with the Hirshhorn Museum. I found the National Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery of Art to be really cool.
I was a little disappointed with the National Museum of the American Indian. I had high hopes and was very excited about seeing it. But I found it to be lacking compare to some of the other museums. Still, it was ok, and I was, nonetheless, glad I was able to visit it.
In between museums, I got to see the parade of Rolling Thunder as it roared down Constitution Ave. I must admit, it was very moving. No pund intended.
My day at the museums ended around five in the afternoon. My feet were hurting like something fierce, and I was dead tired. I still had a long rail ride, and then another 12 miles by car just to get back to the room. I should sleep good tonight.
Tomorrow, it's to the outdoor memorials, the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial. It should be another long day filled with lots of walking.
Third day in DC, National Battlefield at Manassas VA
I initially had planned on visiting the National Battlefield at Manassas in northern Virginia on my last day in the DC area, but circumstances forced me to do it on Saturday May 29, 2005 instead. After taking care of some things that needed to be done, the pups and I went to the battlefield mid morning. Just after we arrived there, the weather began to change. The sky turned cold and gray and it started to rain. Apparently, a cold front was blowing in. Much to my surprise there were people everywhere. Unlike all the previous battlefields I had visit I was not alone. It being a Saturday may have had something to do with it.
Once the rain started, everyone started to scatter for shelter like roaches when a light comes on in a room. Not me and the pups. We roughed it out. Well, at least until we got to the visitor center. Fortunately, the rain stop after a little while and the sky began to clear. The battlefield is well marked and layed out both geographically and chronologially. The battlefield spreads out for miles and it is layed out for visitors to walk it if they so choose.
Of all the battlefields I have visited so far, it's by far the best. There are cannon batteries everywhere and a cool monument of Stonewall Jackson. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the Civil War to come and visit this battlefield.
Tomorrow, it's back to DC to vist some more museums.
Once the rain started, everyone started to scatter for shelter like roaches when a light comes on in a room. Not me and the pups. We roughed it out. Well, at least until we got to the visitor center. Fortunately, the rain stop after a little while and the sky began to clear. The battlefield is well marked and layed out both geographically and chronologially. The battlefield spreads out for miles and it is layed out for visitors to walk it if they so choose.
Of all the battlefields I have visited so far, it's by far the best. There are cannon batteries everywhere and a cool monument of Stonewall Jackson. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the Civil War to come and visit this battlefield.
Tomorrow, it's back to DC to vist some more museums.
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