Arriving in DC was similar to that re-occuring nightmare I have, where I have an enormous final exam, and I forgot to study. We sort of showed up to this grand city, VERY unprepared. After leaving Shawna's house around 8:30 am, naively, we thought we could park somewhere in DC and walk around and just see some sights. It's crazy- buzy in DC: WAAAAAY too many blocked off roads, one-way streets and absolutely not a single parking spot available. We drove around with an ancient map that showed the streets of DC. (Luckily we had that.) It felt like everyone knew exactly where they were going, except for us. Poor Bart. I was just trying to enjoy the sites and keep the kids happy while he had to figure out where we were going.
And then... Luckily...
Then we followed the Memorial Bridge across the Potomac River and straight up to a wonderful place.
Arlington Cemetery.
We parked our car, got out the two strollers, fed MacKay (that feeding thing with a baby under 1-year is pretty constant, don't you agree?), and proceeded to make the LOOOOONNNNNG walk UP to the sites.
Side note: We saw a "free bus" and thought it was one of those free busses to drive you up to the gates. We got on with our kids and the bus driver could tell we had NO idea what we were doing.
She said, "Do you have your tickets?"
Bart replied, "Now where do we get those?"
Oh, I am getting red-in-the-face just remembering. If we had gotten on THAT bus, it would have taken us all the way back to DC, without our car and who knows how we could have gotten back.
So, one of the first places we went and visited in the cemetery, was the grave site of JFK and his beautiful wife. Wow. It was very peaceful. I know it might sound strange, but there is just something I love about being in a cemetery. I know it's the final resting place for our mortal bodies. Those same bodies who housed our Spirits. There is something so sacred and special about how we treat those amazing bodies even after we pass on.
Here's me and the kiddos up at the JFK grave sites. Cool fact: Before JFK's assassination, he was visiting Arlington cemetery. He was standing in this area (where he is now buried) and was reminded of how the Lincoln Memorial (seen on the very left of the pic below) was exactly opposite of the Arlington House (at the top of Arlington cemetery- which was Robert E. Lee's house!) and they were connected by the Memorial Bridge/Road. It seemed as if the two sides of the Civil War (Lincoln vs. Lee) were now being pulled together and connected through that bridge, just as our nation is being pulled together. Kennedy replied, "Wow. I could stay up here forever."
And THAT is why he is buried here, in this exact place. Pretty awesome.
It made Arlington cemetery a VERY popular place to be buried. Now only high-ranking veterans, and military people may be buried in Arlington along with those killed in active duty. (Due to limited space.)
Breathtaking:
Grave site marking 2,000 unknown soldiers from the Battle of Bull Run:
Outside of the Arlington house with a great view. Check out that plane in the back too: (Pay NO attention to the downfall of my looks as these pictures continue. I don't know if I've ever felt so sweaty in non-workout clothing. If you even think about going to Arlington, you better wear your walking shoes and not your comfy flip-flops. My bad. My feet NEVER HURT SO BAD!)
Bart and Robert E. Lee. Didn't know this? Robert E. Lee was asked by Lincoln to be the Union's General BEFORE he was the leader for the South. Lee declined the offer stating that he could never fight against his own family. (Which were in the state of VA.. a "Southern State.") I don't know why I didn't take a picture of the outside of the Arlington House-- but I didn't. It's pretty amazing. It was actually first built to be a memorial monument to George Washington. Robert E. Lee and his wife lived here until the Northern states took it over housing Union Soldiers and starting burring soldiers in the yard.
Another cool fact about Lee. He married the step-great-granddaughter of George Washington. Whaaaat? No, G.W. didn't have any of his own biological children, only a son & daughter from Martha's first marriage.
The house was under construction while we were there- but it was still pretty amazing.
I cannot imagine how it would feel to wear these uniforms:
This fireplace is original to the house:
We also were able to see a graveside-service as we were walking out of the Arlington House. Did I mention that BOTH of our kids slept the entire time we were walking around? THANKFULLY! It made it all the more peaceful. Whitney even lost her beloved brown flip-flop and Bart had to walk all the way back to get it.
Whit didn't wake up until the changing of the guards was ending:
Here's the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier(s). There were initially 4 Unknowns here: 1 soldier each from WWI, WWII, Korean War & the Vietnam War. Then in 1998, the remains of the Vietnam Vet were identified and moved to a family grave-site. This graves represent all those who are unknown who are casualties of war:
The job of these soldiers is pretty cut-throat. No alcohol, no swearing, must be certain height, size and live in the barracks underneath the tombs for 2 years. 6 months of that is spent without watching TV and talking to no-one. Wow... sounds harsher than a mission. 
See that big water-jug? Yes, we drank the whole thing while we were in Arlington. We were sweating so much, we couldn't stay hydrated enough. Look at how good MacKay is... he was just in that onsie being so calm and sweet.
After we went to Arlington we stopped for lunch/dinner at no other place than COSTCO!!! Whitney's eating some of Costco's gellato. Yes, they have it there. We ate a pizza and tried to relax before we saw some more sites. What a busy day. But also so incredible.
Look at my little Cougars:
1 comment:
Your trip just keeps getting better. I want some of whitney's choc chip cookies RIGHT NOW!
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