Between our move from California to Birmingham, Luke and I decided to take the week and fly to Virginia to visit Luke's mom and her husband Bob. Laura and Bob got married a year ago, and we have not seen her life there in Virginia since she moved there from Georgia. They were great hosts in their beautiful home and tour guides of DC, and we especially enjoyed spending so much time with them with nights filled with playing Hand and Foot.
Arlington National Cemetery
The day after we flew into DC, Bob and Laura took us to the capital to spend the afternoon reverently visiting the presidential and war memorials. We first spend a few hours at the Arlington National Cemetery. The only National Cemetery I've been to was the Normandy American Cemetery in France at the D-Day beaches, which was one of the most somber experiences I've ever had, but I had never been to the Arlington National Cemetery in DC, and neither had Luke. The place is absolutely beautiful and calm, as it should be for the final resting place of over 400,000 soldiers who gave their life for our country. For about two hours we just strolled the paths while looking at the tombstones of individuals who depict history (famous generals and the Kennedy's) and sacrifice.
Presidential Memorials
It had been 9 years since I had last been to DC and Luke's first time ever. We enjoyed walking around the Lincoln Memorial with the great views it has of the National Mall. The Jefferson Memorial and FDR Memorial had gorgeous locations along the river and of course the Washington Monument is as grand as ever. My favorite memorial however was the newest one, and wasn't a president, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. It was dedicated in 2011, meaning I had never seen it yet. Luke and I enjoyed walking along the wall and reading his featured quotes, some that sent chills down our back. He was an inspired man indeed.
War Memorials
The last part of day one in DC was the War Memorials. Each were so unique, but equally compelling in their story of the war. The WWII Memorial was the grandest, and as Bob put it, The Korean War Memorial was most haunting as you could see the fear in the soldier's depicted faces. I've had family serve in each American war from The Revolutionary War to the Iraq War, but for me, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was the most somber. My grandfather, who I am extremely close to, served a year in the Vietnam War, while my grandma and mom stayed behind in California (my mom was born while he was over seas). As I looked at the thousands of names on the wall, I couldn't imagine if my grandpa's name were on that wall, and if I never got to know him. Yet for thousands and thousands, that is their story.
DC Tourists
The next morning, at 5:30 am, (2:30 am for Luke and me since we were still on west coast time), we got in the car with Laura and headed to DC to beat the rush hour traffic. We were at the White House Visitor Center by 7:30 am. Now that is dedication. Laura was a great tour guide with everything mapped and planned out. What else can you expect from a Christensen? We did it all! Started with the White House, then walked down to the Ford's Theater where Lincoln was shot (I never knew he was shot by a famous actor of the time), then the National Archives, The Library of Congress, The Capital Building, The Supreme Court, and the Air and Space Museum. We really, really walked, but we were so blessed with the weather! Wasn't too hot at all, and this was DC!
While we weren't playing tourist, we had fun at Bob and Laura's beautiful home and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon at the DC Temple.
