Lincoln and Arlington
It’s another lovely day as Matt and I head off for Washington DC. It’s time to see a little more of this fine city and seat of power in this vast country. Today’s tourist spots are the Lincoln Memorial and that end of the National Mall, that slightly long area of DC that stretches from the Capitol Building all the way to Lincoln’s Statue. Then it’ll be across the Potomac and into the National Cemetery.
We’re lucky with the parking. There’s space at the right end of Ohio Drive and before long we’re into the temple and reading not only about Lincoln but the events that have taken place around this famous spot. Martin Luther King had a dream here and many other anti-war protests, rights marches and other such events have taken place here.
It is an impressive building for one of the America’s most famous and successful presidents. Abraham Lincoln being president during the Civil War and held the Union of the states together while also ending slavery in the country.
Lincoln himself, at least his statue, sits watching across the National Mall to the Capitol Building (even if it is obscured by the Washington Monument). Lincoln watches over the continued states and the democratic affairs of the nation.
We took a brief drive into downtown DC, parking again efficiently and easily. Lunch was at the excellent Capitol City Brewing Company on New York Avenue. Then a brief drive back over the Potomac on the Arlington Memorial Bridge to the Arlington National Cemetery.
The devastation war can hold over one country is shown to the fullest in the Arlington National Cemetery.
Arlington House was the home of Robert E Lee before the start of the Civil War. When Lee took control of the Confederate army the decision was taken to use his former home as a military burial ground, the land being ideally suited for such a purpose.
To see the Cemetery is an experience that puts much of the world into some perspective. When walking up and around the roads and looking back down some of the hills there are hundreds of grave stones. The cemetery may have seen the Civil War, two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and now Iraq and Afghanistan but there are far too many who have died in the service of their country. If you ever want to understand to true futility of war then visit the Arlington National Cemetery.
There were various aspects I wanted to see. The Tomb of the Unknowns being one. This point remembers those who died during the 2 World Wars, Korea and Vietnam. It had been interesting to learn how the bodies had been chosen. For each of the wars 4 random unknown soldiers had been placed in identical coffins and one of those chosen. Modern DNA analysis has since identified the Vietnam Unknown (as Air Force 1st Lt Michael Blassie) so that even though Vietnam’s unknown are still remembered the tomb itself does not contain a body.
The modern Amphitheatre is impressive. The Botticino stone and marble building hosts the Memorial and Veterans Day ceremonies as well as state funerals.
Walking round Arlington is tough work. The hills fall and rise all around and just getting from the entrance, up to the Amphitheatre, down and round to the JFK grave and eternal flame and back to the entrance took nearly 2 hours. It does, however, make more sense to walk around and read the names on the graves, see the smaller and sometimes missed memorials and appreciate exactly what this place represents.
The drive back to Fredericksburg was interesting to say the least. Having John Cleese on the Tomtom meant somehow find our way round to Wegmans, the impressive sized grocery store (which didn’t have any Branston Pickle) and the Ikea at Potomac Mills. An Ikea that size and all we bought was one rug for the new kitchen.
Links:
Arlington National Cemetery
Capitol City Brewing Company
