July 25, 2016 by coloradotravelingducks

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

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

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

A statue of Jefferson is inside the memorial.

Statue of Thomas Jefferson

We bought tickets for the Big Bus Tours.

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

At Arlington National Cemetery

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

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

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

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. 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

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

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.

July 23, 2016 by coloradotravelingducks

Colorado Traveling Ducks Visit FDR Memorial

We really liked the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, so we want to dedicate an entire blog post to showing you what we found there. Most memorials dedicated to a person consist of one structure. But not this one. Let’s go.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

This is a famous statement made by President Franklin Roosevelt, or FDR as he was known. The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself.

Fear

That sounds right to these Colorado Traveling Ducks. We love water, waterfalls and fountains, so this was a great view for us.

Pretty waterfall

FDR is sitting in his chair.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his wheel chair

When he was 39 years old, in 1921, he contracted polio, losing the use of his legs. Franklin D. Roosevelt was President of the United States during the Great Depression and also during World War II. In the days before television, he talked to the American people on the radio. This man is listening to one of his “fireside chats.”

Listening to FDR’s Fireside Chat

This sign shows President Roosevelt’s definition of progress for the American people.

He said…

This statue illustrates his philosophy.

Progress?

During the Great Depression many Americans were out of work and could not feed themselves or their families.

In line for Soup Kitchen

These people are in line for a meal at what was called a “soup kitchen.” Here is another favorite fountain at this memorial.

Another waterfall

FDR was very fond of his dog, Fala, so here is Fala with President Franklin Roosevelt. Many people wonder if President Franklin Roosevelt was related to President Theodore Roosevelt. They were related, but just barely. They were 5th cousins. FDR was a popular president and guided our country through two very difficult times in our history. FDR was president during the Great Depression, and also during World War II. He was also the only president to run for office 4 times and to be elected 4 times. He was President of the United States from 1933-1945. After he died in office, our laws were changed to only allow a president to have two terms. After President Franklin D Roosevelt’s death, April 12,1945, Eleanor pushed for the US to join the United Nations. Eleanor Roosevelt, the widow of President Franklin Roosevelt, became the first United States delegate to the United Nations.

Eleanor Roosevelt

She also served as the first chairperson of the UN Commission on Human Rights. This is a great memorial with many areas and a gift shop with a small museum in the center of the memorial. We want to end today with another favorite fountain.

We still love water

We hope you visit the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial when you are in Washington DC. It is on the Tidal Basin. We think you will like it.

July 22, 2016 by coloradotravelingducks

More Washington D.C. Monuments with the Colorado Traveling Ducks

Washington D.C. has so much to see. We could spend months here and not see it all. But, today we will show you a few more things we enjoyed. This is a monument to honor the veterans from Washington D.C.

Remembering Veterans from Washington D.C.

We, Zeb and Soapy Smith Duck, think this is a great idea. In the early days of Washington D.C., the main method of transportation was by canals. During that time, the Lock Keeper lived here.

The Lock Keeper’s House

The canal system was soon replaced by roads, but this is an important part of the Washington D.C. history. Soon we came to a memorial to the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Remembering the signers of the Declaration of Independence

As you know, the Declaration of Independence was vital to forming the United States of America as an independent country. Each of the signers has a plaque.

A plaque for each signer

This is the one honoring John Hancock.

John Hancock’s signature in gold.

In the United States when your signature is required, some people say to “put your John Hancock here”. That is a reference to this signature. The memorial for the Vietnam Veterans is referred to as the Vietnam Wall. This simple design lists, in chronological order, the Americans that gave their lives during this war.

Vietnam Wall

Seeing all the names, really emphasizes the number of men and women that died during this time. There 58,272 names on the Vietnam Wall. These visitors seem to be looking for specific names.

Vietnam Wall

Another statue honors the more than 265,000 American women that served in the armed forces during the Vietnam era.

Legacy of Healing and Hope

This is a Legacy of Healing and Hope. We like this statue of Three Soldiers.

Three soldiers–Vietnam Memorial

This bronze statue is also a memorial to those who fought in Vietnam. The statues adds a more traditional combat element to the Vietnam memorial. Here is another monument. It is dedicated to the memory of John Ericsson.

Remembering John Ericsson

This Swedish-born engineer-inventor is best known for his work during the Civil War when he transformed naval warfare through his design of the iron-plated USS Monitor. According to the National Park Service, the movements of Ericsson’s pencil across his drafting board were as crucial to the victory as the movements of Lincoln’s armies across battlefields. Here is the bridge to Arlington, Virginia and to Arlington National Cemetery.

Bridge to Virginia over Potomac River

The first Japanese Cherry Tree was planted March 27, 1912.

Celebrating gift of Japanese Cherry Trees from Japan

The cherry trees were a gift from Japan, symbolizing friendship and goodwill. This tree is leaning over the Tidal Basin.

Leaning over Tidal Basin. Don’t fall

It should be growing straight, but we think it looks nice this way. We hope it does not fall into the water. As you can see, there is so much to see and do in Washington D.C. We hope you visit our nation’s capital soon.

July 21, 2016 by coloradotravelingducks

The ColoradoTraveling Ducks Visit Washington D.C.

This is the 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

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

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

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

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

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

Korean Memorial, etched wall

This pool is also at the site of the 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

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

Fountains in World War II Memorial

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

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

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

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

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

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