It's hard to believe that the week is over.  Today we will start at 7:45 am and then leave from the Smithsonian  at 1:30pm.   I think everyone will be glad to be home.  First stop - The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

 

MLK Jr. Memorial Entrance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FDR Memorial

Who's wearing the shades?

 

Depression Era Breadline

They said they kneaded to be in the picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jefferson Memorial

Just before our walk around the tidal basin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd like to add on a little bit to Wednesday's post.  After dinner we were visited by Martha Washington who shared with us a little bit of her life with George.  She was more than a little miffed with Jim W. who challenged her on owning slaves servants.  And she got a few bees in her bonnet whenever the subject of Thomas Jefferson came up.  Thanks Todd...

Doesn't she look like Aunt Bea?

 

 

 

 

The Capitol and Azaleas on Thursday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second in line to the presidency...

John Boehner that is

 

Shortly after this picture was taken Todd spotted Paul Ryan zipping across the rotunda floor.

Charley got a glimpse of him from the back but no one else saw anything.

That Romney Bobblehead doll would look really good with the VP's signature on it.  Okay, okay, the former VP candidate's signature.

 

 

 

 

Reagan and Charley

Like peanut butter and jelly

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Inside the Library of Congress

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Holocaust Museum

(click for larger image)

Quote by General Dwight D. Eisenhower

 

 

 Holocaust Museum

 

 

 

Best friends no matter what...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Killing time in line and having fun

 

 

 

 

 

Inside the Capitol

Well let's get right to it tonight - there are a lot of videos to load.  First of all we are relieved and thankful that the bus was fixed and ready to go at 7:00am.  I heard it was some sort of switch that was accidently shut off.  Just the simple matter of flipping it back to the "on" position.  Our children enjoyed breakfast a great deal, as did the adults.  We started off for Arlington National Cemetary.  Pictures alone cannot convey the emotion of being there in person.  Again, it's something we hope will be imprinted on the students' hearts for a lifetime.

Arlington

 

All the kids looking real  nice.

 

 

Guard walks 21 steps and pauses for 21 seconds

 during each interval of his walk

Military precision.

 

 

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

 

 

Our four students laying the wreath

 

The WCA Wreath

 

 

Changing of the Guard Ceremony

 

Inspection during the change

 

 

Presentation of wreath and school mention

 

 

 

Placement and Taps

 

 

 

Iwo Jima Memorial

 

 

Unable to comment

I'll take suggestions...

 

 

From Mt. Vernon - View of the Potomac

 

 

Mt. Vernon group photo

 

 

Luckily we outran these menacing clouds

 

 

We visited three monuments at night so the photo quality is

a little grainy.  This is at the Korean War Memorial.

  The photos are etched into the granite walls.

 

Lincoln Memorial

 

 

Vietnam Memorial - Complete book of names

 

 

 

Families often leave crosses, photos and other

memorable items at the wall.  It is very emotional to

walk by the wall and see literally hundreds of notes,

photos and flowers.

 

 

Rain this morning folks, and lots of it too.

Bus arrived here right on schedule at 2:00 pm.

First stop was the WWII Memorial. It's divided into two halves, the Pacific Sector and the Atlantic Sector, both highlighting their respective and important battles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a chance to meet a few of the veterans and to thank them personally for their service.

Jim is 94 years old, served in the army in France and on north to the Baltics. Was in charge of 8 inch Howitzers and did re-con missions in a Piper Cub, with no defenses or parachutes. He was wounded but remembers everything very clearly.

 

The 8 Inch Howitzer

 

 

 

Next we headed out for dinner.  The buffet style included BBQ ribs, baked salmon and chicken breasts.  Veggies (Yay! from the moms) & french fries.

 

 

 

FBI Headquarters

How's that for security moms?

 

 

In front of the White House

 

 

 

White House

 

 

 

 

White House

 

 

 

 

Shortly after these shots were taken there was a little bit of excitement on Pennsylvania Avenue.  Apparently a motorcade was readying for departure and a somewhat overzealous tourist got a little too close for his own comfort.  He was quickly admonished by the Secret Service to move back and to stay back.  At least that's what I heard.  He mumbled something about "We the people" as he returned to his place on the sidewalk by the rest us.

 

 

 

 

An arrest in D.C. could very well jeopardize our golf outing back home.

 

 

 

Students all having a good time...

 

 

 

As we were loading up the bus to head to the hotel for the night the lights were flickering on and off.

Lo and behold!  The bus would not start.  We took about an hour or so delay and walked around the city to wait it out.  As a temporary solution another bus was brought in to "rescue" us and shuttled us and our luggage to the hotel.  Hopefully our bus can be mended!

Say a prayer.

 

 

It's always nice to see a hotel with the confidence to use white bedding.

 

 

No complaints here.