Walk In The Park: SBA, Day 6 - Oh say can you see? Time to walk the Mall! Hey, down in front!

Standing as I do, with my hand upon this staff, and under the folds of the American flag, I ask you to stand by me so long as I stand by it. Abraham Lincoln
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/american_flag.html

You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.

~ George M. Cohan

The trains were running (and a good thing for we had a long list - made longer by the shut-down yesterday). First stop, the Museum of American History. Our first stop there? The "Star-Spangled Banner."*

We learn about this flag - how it inspired the writing of the national anthem - how it was enormous. I read about the conservation of the flag and wanted to see what they have done to keep it safe, allow us to see it, and educate us about it.

Wow! No line!

Behind this beautiful work is the giant flag that inspired Francis Scott Key.

The website provides photos and educational. Go there. Take a look. But if you go to see the thing itself, don't walk outside the lights - or the guards will yell at you (this would be our first time to be "corrected" but not the last - I think it happened at least 5 times in different places**). We looked at the interactive program that shared information on the damages to and repair of the flag (interactive programs are also online).

DH using an interactive program.

After the flag we saw the weirdly creepy proposed memorial for Washington. It's in a "classical" style. Still, it is not the way we expect to see the first president and so we got the pillar instead. It is another classical design, but not as weird.

Come on. It is weird, right?

And it is awkward how this big foot sticks out in front.

Here is the information provided.

The programs on the first ladies, the presidency and the white house children were interesting, sentimental, beautiful, and broad. Here are an assortment of things that grabbed my attention.

The White House doll.

Protest signs.

Street signs.

Come on, VOTE!

Political cartoons.

I love this one.

And another one...

There was a section on the presidency in entertainment. I don't remember this movie.

A Teddy bear.

So, how did you get your draft number? Reach in and pick.

We ate at a number of the museum cafes.

This was some good chicken noodle soup.

Did YOU know the United States produces more than 25% of the world's supply of cheese - 9 billion pounds per year? That's a lot of cheese!

After lunch we headed to the monuments.

Our early days had been overcast and grey. Wednesday was bright sun for the park. Today a front was blowing in and the clouds were stunningly beautiful. We worried about rain coming in, but hoped to make a covered monument before the downpour. We did.

This sculpture is on the Mall side of the American History Museum. It is "Infinity" by Jose De Rivera, 1967.

The Washington Monument appeared to pierce the clouds.

The Smithsonian's African American Museum of History and Culture is still under construction. The architecture is beautiful.

Another view of the monument.

David's Tent - we had to look it up.

A long walk towards the Vietnam Memorial.

Looking back towards the Washington Monument.

A friendly squirrel watched us and kept falling over. Not sure what was up. We kept our distance, as did he.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial****

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is made up of three parts: the original wall of names designed by Maya Lin, the Three Servicemen Statue, and the Women's Statue. You can read the sites below for history and controversy.

I find all three parts of the memorial to be moving. This memorial is hard for me for many reasons, but I never want to go to Washington without a pilgrimage to the wall.

The Women's Statue

The women in this statue are treating the wounded, mourning the lost, and waiting for the helicopters to arrive.

The Three Servicemen:

Brothers-in-arms, the servicemen look out over a short distance to the wall.

The list of names.

The walk from The Three Servicemen to the wall.

Letters and mementos left at the foot of the wall.

Looking down the wall.

Checking out the map again.

Headed to see Lincoln

Those guys walk too fast for me.

A view of the Washington Monument from the steps of Lincoln's Memorial.

This is an impressive "temple"

DH told JRF that you could never miss the sound of a Huey. We had been explaining the "watching for the birds" part of the Women's Statue and how you listened for and watched for the helicopters to extract you from a battlefield or evacuate the wounded. There were more than a few helicopters that flew around us - reminding us.

OK. I am going to say it. There were a great number of steps!

Another photo. I cannot decide which I like the best and will probably add a few more.

The great emancipator. We did not sit in this seat.

We were not that far from National Airport and planes kept flying over.

Then we took a little trip on the Circulator Bus (again the red line). This shuttle is new to us, but so convenient for walking the mall. When one gets tired, they can jump on the bus and rest their legs for a while. The bus went the opposite way we were walking so we got a good rest before we arrived at the Jefferson Memorial. I have always wanted to see it, but usually was too tired (or kids were too tired, or we were late for the next thing) to see it.

I love these "temple" designs, but no one could afford them today.

It is hard to get a good photo. Either the architecture feels "off" or it looks like the people are going to tumble down the steps.

Looking across at the Washington Monument.

Selfie

Stunning.

The man could write.

Just outside the Jefferson Memorial folks were getting photos of the trees starting their bloom.

We were a week too early for the Cherry Blossom Festival, but we saw some lovely blooms around the city.

Far fewer crowds to see Jefferson.

We got back on the bus. Out of time to get to the Kennedy Center (!!) for a play, we only saw the FDR and MLK memorials from the bus. We viewed the Korean War Veterans Memorial from a distance. It is a hauntingly beautiful thing. [DH says the men and women of the Vietnam Vets Memorial look hot and miserable. The soldiers of the Korean memorial look cold and miserable.]

We arrived at the Kennedy Center in time to get our tickets, listen to a jazz combo rehearse, and be second in line for the play - Shear Madness.We won't spoil the madness for you. It was fun and entertaining. Get there early as the actors start before everyone is seated. You will want to be there for everything.

The Kennedy Center is FULL of art:

Part of "China Red" a work by Tim Yip

Like a melted glass sprite in a column of glass. Psychogeography61 by Dustin Yellin*****

We weren't the only ones listening to the jazz music. I will see if I cannot find the name of the singer. She was awesome.

This has never been my favorite depiction of President Kennedy, but it is better in person. It is by Robert Berks.

This side view of the bust also shows the high ceilings and the stunning lighting.

An interactive kiosk allows one to listen to a number of Kennedy's speeches. This was in Berlin.

I am a worrier/control freak/um, you know. I fretted all the way to the ticket box. And they were there!

No cameras past here.

See. We really were at the front of the line!

The music is good. The dialog is current and snappy and snarky. It is a murder comedy. We think the three old ladies sitting in front of us had more fun than anyone. We were in an audience with 3 or 4 school groups. They were animated, but not disturbing.

We caught a cab to the hotel. We stopped for "happy hour" and then went to dinner.

This was my only mixed drink of the trip. And I shared that cheese plate. Really!

These gorgeous dogs waited outside the restaurant for their owners.

Attempts to display the tickets and Playbill

Proof!

NOTES:

* http://americanhistory.si.edu/
** "Walk between the lights." "Don't cross the metal strip." "NO PHOTOGRAPHY!" "Don't sit on the barrier." "NO PHOTOGRAPHY!!! Some places had signs clearly indicating what you could and could not do. We were proud to help other tourists by calling down "the man" for direction when it was not provided.
*** http://www.davidstentdc.org/what-is-davids-tent-2015/
****https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Veterans_Memorial [See also - http://www.thewall-usa.com/ ]
***** http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/03/psychogeographies-3d-collages-encased-in-layers-of-glass-by-dustin-yellin/

Final note:

On cab ride back to the hotel we passed the Apostolic Nunciature (it is what they call the Vatican's embassy-like presence in DC). We saw a protestor there and we looked him up. You can read about him at the link below. He was protesting the church's sexual predator issues long before it was in the news.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wojnowski

Walk In The Park

Thursday, March 17, 2016

SBA, Day 6 - Oh say can you see? Time to walk the Mall! Hey, down in front!

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