Tuesday, July 3, 2012

A Visit and the Cemetery

I got a phone call from my Dad on Friday June 29th saying he would have a layover in DC on his way home from Boston.  He asked if we wanted to join him at the airport to say hi.  Of course!  So we got up early-ish on Saturday morning to meet my Dad at Reagan National Airport.  It wouldn't have been too bad of a drive, but we had had a bad storm the night before and over a million people were without power!!  Signal lights were out and so it was a bit crazy.  
But we were glad to see my Dad and spend some time with him, even if it was in an airport.  Glenn was excited and happy to see Grandpa Don.  He wanted to tell him so many things.  His new way of getting someone's attention is by clapping--and sometimes it's right in that person's face.  Dad laughed about that.  Dad treated us to a cinnamon roll and Glenn, instead of sharing with me or Paul, wanted to share with Grandpa Don.  Glenn loved talking about the airplanes with Grandpa and looking right out at them.  



We hadn't planned on going to DC that weekend, but since we were there, we decided to take advantage and go sight-seeing.  We were really close to the Arlington National Cemetery, so we went there.

 Famous words by John F. Kennedy
 President Kennedy's grave next to his wife, Jackie 
 A view of the Capitol
 The Washington Monument
 This was a massive grave of 2, 111 unknown soldiers who died in the Civil War
 A beautiful arbor, where we found respite from the hot sun
 A view of the Pentagon
 A view of the Arlington House
 The guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from WWII
 A really beautiful amphitheater, just behind the Tomb
A view of the mast from the USS Maine
 An anchor from the ship
 And views of the many thousands and thousands of graves
We saw a mere fraction of the cemetery--it was so hot and we didn't have sunblock.  It was nice to see at least a little bit.  It is a sobering sight.
Thank you to all the thousands of men and women who have served our country!!

1 comment:

Kirsta and Morian said...

That's cool that you were able to see Dad on his way through!