Arlington National Cemetery

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More from Washington DC with the Colorado Traveling Ducks

Today we are still writing about Washington D.C.   Again, there is so much here.   This memorial honors the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.   Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.   He, like Gandhi, believed in peaceful protest.

Dr. Martin Luther King

Dr. Martin Luther King

Millions of people followed Dr. King in this peaceful protest.   As a result, Congress passed the Civil Rights Laws.   This says Out of the Mountain of Despair, A Stone of Hope.

Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King

Here is a view of the Jefferson Memorial from Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, across the Tidal Basin.

Jefferson Monument from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr monument

Jefferson Monument from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr monument

A statue of Jefferson is inside the memorial.

Statue of Thomas Jefferson

Statue of Thomas Jefferson

We bought tickets for the Big Bus Tours.

Big Bus Tours in Washington D.C.

Big Bus Tours in Washington D.C.

Our driver didn’t seem to follow the advertised route and did not tell us where we were going, but we went to Arlington Cemetery.

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington is the largest National Cemetery in the United States.   This arch caught our attention.

At Arlington NationalCemetery

At Arlington National Cemetery

Seeing so many neat, orderly tombstones is a very moving experience.

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery

It is true that we love all the monuments, but we Colorado Traveling Ducks want to know about everything.   So, here we are at George Washington University.

We are learning at Georgetown University

We are learning at George Washington University

We stayed in this area so we visited the university often.

We visited Union Station train station.   Such a beautiful, old building.

Inside Union Station

Inside Union Station

In front of the train station, this statue recognizes Christopher Columbus.

Statue recognizing Columbus's arrival in the New World

Statue recognizing Columbus’s arrival in the New World

The ball on the top represents Columbus realizing that the world is round, not flat.   The old man represents the Old World and the young man represents the New World.   The explorer, of course, is Christopher Columbus.

We then took a night tour of Washington DC.

Washington DC night tour

Washington DC night tour.   US Capitol Building

This was better as there was a narrative to tell us what we were seeing and give us a little history about the area.   The bus tour we continued the following day was also very good.   We liked the Washington Monument at night.

Washington Monument at night

Washington Monument at night

And, no tour of Washington DC would be complete without a photo of the White House.

White House and south lawn

White House and south lawn

Of course, the White House is the home of the president of the United States of America.   We did not take this photo, it was available, free, online.   We did like this photo better than the ones we took, and we wanted to show you the best.   Washington D.C. has so much to see.   There just is not enough time to explore everywhere.

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The ColoradoTraveling Ducks Visit Washington D.C.

This is the Washington Monument.

Washington Monument

Washington Monument

We are in Washington D.C.   This is exciting.   We see these monuments on television at home and now we, Zeb the Duck and Soapy Smith Duck are here.  The Lincoln Memorial is big.   We are from Colorado, so we want to remind you that there is a town in Colorado named Marble.   There is marble there and some of the Colorado marble is used in this Lincoln Memorial.   Colorado marble is also used in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.   Sometimes we Colorado Traveling Ducks, do brag.

Steps to Lincoln Memorial

Steps to Lincoln Memorial

This is a lot of steps, but our moms say we are climbing all of them.   We did it.   We ducks are sitting near Lincoln, looking up to him for wisdom.

Learning from President Lincoln

Learning from President Lincoln

From the top of the Lincoln Memorial, we look over the reflecting pools to the Washington Monument.

Toward Washington Monument over reflecting pool.

Toward Washington Monument over reflecting pool.

From the top of the back of the Lincoln Memorial, we look down the bridge to Arlington Cemetery.   The large building is the former Lee Mansion, former home of Robert E. Lee.

From Lincoln Memorial to Arlington National Cemetery

From Lincoln Memorial to Arlington National Cemetery

Lee was a general for the south, or Confederacy, during the U.S. Civil War.   After the north won the Civil War and slavery was ended, the property of Robert E.Lee was turned into the largest Federal cemetery in the United States.   Washington D.C. has many war memorials and monuments.   This is in remembrance those that fought in the Korean War.

Korean War Memorial

Korean War Memorial

The wall behind the soldiers is etched, in remembrance of the Korean War.

Korean Memorial, etched wall

Korean Memorial, etched wall

This pool is also at the site of the Korean War Memorial.

Pool at Korean War Memorial

Pool at Korean War Memorial

One of the newer memorials was dedicated by President George W. Bush on May 29, 2004, to those 16 million members of the Armed Forces of the United States of America that served during World War II.  This memorial is huge.   We entered the memorial through this arch.

One of two arch entrances to World War II Memorial

One of two arch entrances to World War II Memorial

The two entrances are Atlantic and Pacific.   We admired the fountains in the center.

Fountains in World War II Memorial

Fountains in World War II Memorial

Pillars represent each of America’s 48 states, from 1945, and each US territory.

Pillar to Alaska

Pillar to Alaska

This is Alaska’s pillar, since Eider, our Alaska cousin was not with us today.  There are 24 artistic pieces in bas relief, representing scenes of war experiences.

Bas Relief road vehicles

Bas Relief road vehicles

We liked the road vehicles.   But, we also liked the airplanes.

Bas relief airplanes

Bas relief airplanes

The first piece shows new soldiers ready for physical exams.   The last shows a handshake between American and Russian armies.   The Price of Freedom is huge.

The Price of Freedom

The Price of Freedom

There are 4,048 gold stars on this wall.   Each gold star represents 100 of our American service personnel that died or remained missing in World War II.   The 405,399 lost is second only to the more than 620,000 Americans lost during our Civil War.   I have to tell you, that we did not take this last photo, but we really liked it.   This is a panorama at night.

Washington Monument from World War II Memorial at night

Washington Monument from World War II Memorial at night

We are so impressed with all the monuments here.   We will show you more next time.