Veteran’s Day

When I wrote this, I had no idea that it would be one of the most ‘hit’ articles here. It was picked up by another blog  in its entirety. A woman whose uncle was on the plane motivated me to write to Senators John Boehner and George Voinovich, neither of them felt the need to even respond with a form email or anything (thanks for the representation, Gentlemen).

Once again, a huge THANK YOU! to our Veterans. We wouldn’t have the freedoms we do without you brave men and women. Thanks to my Uncles and my Dad. Thanks to my brother, John, who was a Marine. Thanks to my sister-in-law, Constance Dees, and her hubby, Jon, who are both active military, stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. Thanks to Michael Cervantes, who was in Operation Desert Storm. Thanks to John Uptmor, whom I work with, who was in Afghanistan within the last year with the Army. Thanks to Glenn Johnson, who’s on his way to Afghanistan (God watch over you). And please remember our local heroes, Airman 1st Class Eric Barnes, and Army Sgt. Bruce Horner.

Looking Down on DC

When my kids suggested going back to D.C. for vacation this year, I had to make sure we saw and did things that we didn’t do 2 years ago when we visited. So, I got advance tickets to the Washington Monument. Tickets are normally free, but the line can start at 7am for that days tours. Rather than take a chance on missing out, I paid $1.50 apiece to guarantee my tickets, a pittance in my book. As it turned out, even paying the $6 was a steal for the view.

 

 

 

 

 

The Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, D.C.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is America’s national institution for the documentation, study, and interpretation of Holocaust history, and serves as this country’s memorial to the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust.

The Museum’s primary mission is to advance and disseminate knowledge about this unprecedented tragedy; to preserve the memory of those who suffered; and to encourage its visitors to reflect upon the moral and spiritual questions raised by the events of the Holocaust as well as their own responsibilities as citizens of a democracy.

Library of Congress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘God Is In The Details’

When I first started to title this post, I started to type ‘the devil is in the details.’ Not knowing exactly the origin of the quote, I Googled it. ‘The devil’-version implies that the smallest details, if overlooked, might cause failure. The more positive ‘God is in the details’, I believe, is appropriate here, because if you look at the finer points of some of the historic landmarks in DC, they were truly inspired.

Pillars of the Jefferson Memorial

Some of the 4000 stars of the Freedom Wall at the WWII Memorial

One Entrance to Union Station

One hallway inside Union Station

The Stairwell inside the Hart Senate Office Building

One of the chandelier domes in the Capitol Building

Main Ceiling in Union Station

Large Dome in Capitol Building

Close-up of Dome (speaking of inspired…)

One view inside the Holocaust Museum

And, for fun, a close-up of the upper balcony of the White House, taken from the Washington Monument

 

Seeing the Sights

When asked where they wanted to vacation this year, both of my kids responded, ‘Let’s go back to D.C.’ There’s no rides, no ‘fun’ stuff to do, it’s all educational. ‘D.C.!’ was the cry. So, D.C. it was. I booked a hotel just a few minutes walking from the Washington Monument, that would put us right in the center of everything, smack in the almost-middle of the Mall.

I arranged for us to do some things that we didn’t do or get to see our last visit, 2 years ago. I reserved tickets to go up in the Washington Monument, signed us up for a tour of the Capitol Building through Senator Voinovich’s office, and mapped out directions to Union Station and other places. We walked a LOT. And I took a LOT of pictures. So, as I sort through and pick out the ones that I think turned out the best, I’ll share here. (This time, I was smart enough to take my tripod because D.C. at night is simply stunning.)

 

 

If you click the photo, you’ll open a window with a larger view.

 

 

Memorials

I know these aren’t all located with Lorain County, but I thought I’d share them.