Jefferson Memorial across the Tidal Basin. The Tidal Basin
is lined with cherry trees.
The cherry blossoms were just past their peak.
We skirted the mall and headed east, exploring and looking for
a place to have lunch. This is the Church of the Brethren that
my mother attended when she was growing up. She and Dad were
married in this church, too.
We lucked out in finding this pizza place. The deciding factor
was free parking!
It was delightfully uncrowded, had an extensive menu, and
the food was great.
Alan posed in front of the cherry tree by the pizza place.
Then it was time to meander back to the mall and try to find
a parking spot. We passed a lot of landmarks on the way,
including the Capitol.
Supreme Court.
7th Street (I think).
National Archives.
The IRS. "Taxes are what we pay for a civilized society. - Oliver
Wendell Holmes" is etched in stone on the building.
We found a parking spot near the White House and just
a couple blocks off the mall. This is a map of our walking path.
We walked approximately 2.2 miles. With Mother's handicap
placard, we could park for double time on any meter, and
probably didn't have to put quarters in, either, although I felt
better feeding it, just in case.
These trees are probably another variety of cherry. - JM
Magnolia tree.
We headed for the WWII Memorial. - JM
A view of Constitution Gardens.
We began at the WWII Memorial.
- JM
Dan reflects on the meaning of the gold stars. Each one
represents 100 lost Americans. A home that sent a person
to war displayed a blue star in the window. If that person died,
the star would be replaced with a gold one. The inscribed words are
"Here we mark the price of freedom".
John's dad Wally McGreevy served in the Pacific. - JM
Alan honors Granddaddy who saw part of the Battle of the Bulge.
- JM
Leaving the WWII Memorial, we hiked along the reflecting pool
toward the Lincoln Memorial.
To our left we spied this WWI Memorial.
- JM
The Washington Monument.
The length of the reflecting pool from the Lincoln Memorial.
Everyone except Mother and me hiked up the steps to commune with
Lincoln. - JM
- JM
The Korean War Memorial tries to draw you in to the soldiers'
reality.
My father said this soldier with the machinegun looked much
as he did during WWII. The equipment didn't change much between
the wars.
A perky robin.
Probably an apple tree in bloom near the Vietnam Memorial.
Approaching the Vietnam Memorial.
Mother spotted Cousin Tom Hubbell's entry in the book.
The Capitol is just barely visible in the distance.
A couple of birds were splashing in a puddle.
Alan thought these burls were worthy of a picture.
On our way to find Einstein. He hides by the
National Academy of Sciences.
The statue is designed for climbing and is very welcoming.
The floor of the monument is a celestial map.
Alan spots our sun and shows Dan.
- JM
Mother, Molly, and I rested up while the guys took off
to see the Constitution Gardens.
Constitution Gardens, honoring the signers of the Constitution.
- JM
Two signers of significance to John. - JM
By this time, both the oldest and youngest members of the group
were getting tired. So we walked back to the car while
John, Molly, and Glen hiked over to the base of the Washington
Monument. - JM
They had a nice view toward the area we'd spent the afternoon
traversing. - JM
John and Glen wanted to see the front of the White House, so
they zipped over there while the rest of us put our feet up
at the car and munched on chips. - JM
Glen spotted some neat stuff on the roof of the White House.
On the way out of town, we drove past Foundry United Methodist
Church to show the McGreevys where we were married.
Foundry has other significance, too, of course.
This little restaurant near Foundry, Skewers, is a favorite middle eastern
eating spot for Wendy, Steve, and Vanessa.
Did you know April was Mathematics Awareness Month?
This banner was on the Mathematical Association of America
building.
We even ended up driving past Dr. Schatz's office, our dentist
for years and years. - JM
The boys had a little daylight left when we got home, just
enough to enjoy a squirt gun battle.
Video games were the next order of business, once it got dark.