After we left Charlottesville on August 19 we drove to Washington DC. We stayed at the same hotel in Rosslyn that we did in 2000. It was convenient since the Metro was a couple of blocks away, and it was a short walk to the Iwo Jima Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. In fact after we arrived and unpacked we walked to the Memorial and also checked out the Netherlands Memorial Carillon, just as in 2000. We then entered the Cemetery for the express purpose of visiting the Tomb of the Unknowns. I had not been there since 1966, but remember being impressed with the ceremony back then. We arrived just in time to see the changing of the guards. I then stayed to watch the guard walk back and forth: 21 steps between posts, and always carrying his rifle on the shoulder away from the Tombs. The next changing of the guards was in 20 minutes, and I was able to watch that ceremony in its entirety. At 5 PM was retreat, and I observed the sergeant and two privates lower the flag from its staff, fold it into a triangle, and put it away for the evening. When the ceremonies were done we walked to the Metro to take it to the Foggy Bottom station and go to dinner at Bertucci’s on Pennsylvania Avenue.
On Sunday I went to church about a mile from the hotel, and then we took the Metro to the Smithsonian Institute. We decided to visit the Museum of American History since neither Ellen nor I could remember ever being there. On the ground floor were exhibits dedicated to fields like agriculture, land transportation and communications. On the third floor were wings dedicated to America at War and American pop culture. In the former were items from our various wars, going back to the 1750’s. In the other wing artifacts on display included the Bunkers’ chairs, Howdy Doody and Charlie McCarthy puppets, Dorothy’s red shoes, Ted Baxter’s jacket, and Barney Miller’s badge. There was also a hall dedicated to bluegrass and country music.
After the museum we walked to the World War II Memorial and took several pictures. We continued to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial where my wife and I looked up three people we knew who were killed in Vietnam. After that we walked to the Foggy Bottom Metro station to go back to the hotel. We then rested and then went out to an Arlington Bertucci’s with my wife’s cousin and her family.
On Monday we drove to Mount Vernon to admire George Washington’s home. I was impressed with his parlor, guest rooms and dining rooms. We also saw the actual fields, as well as dependency buildings. After that we drove back to the District to visit the Washington National Cathedral. I looked up the grave of Woodrow Wilson, as well as the columbarium where the ashes of Helen Keller and Ann Sullivan are inurned. Then it was the Beltway and heading home.
The time in both Charlottesville and Washington DC were enjoyable. We hope to do it again.
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