Hey everyone!
Welcome back to D.C.! The memorials of the District of Columbia are both numerous and grand, and this third official day in Washington was dedicated to seeing nearly all of said landmarks around the Reflecting Pool and Tidal Basin.
Let’s not waste any more time, this is Day 4 of our trip!
Reflecting Pool Memorials
Hence the subtitle of this section, all these memorials are located near or around the Reflecting Pool, the long lane of water that stretches between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.
Here, the full grand scale of the Washington Monument can be seen once again. Unfortunately, as the elevators are non-operational, we are unable to go inside and up to the observation deck.
If you look closely at about a third of the height up, the Monument slightly changes color… at the time it was being built, they ran out of money, so it was not completed for a couple of decades, then finished much later, after The Civil War.
The base of the memorial features 50 U.S. Flags, one for each of the 50 states.
President Zachary Taylor dedicated it’s cornerstone on July 4th, 1850. Only five days later, he died of mysterious causes, likely due to the treatment of the copious amounts of raw cherries that he had consumed.
Opposite the Washington Monument is the National Mall, with the Capitol building just in the distance! I know i’ve said it before, but it’s impressive to look at.
And this is the South Portico of the White House! Sorry for the crooked photo, I’ll try to do better the next time we are on this side of the White House.
We then came to our next memorial…
World War II Memorial
Dozens of veterans had arrived here for a special photo. Only a small handful of them were World War II Veterans… within only a few years, the last of their kind will fade into legend…
Each of the fifty-six pillars that surround this hallowed ground feature each of the 50 states, the 5 Territories, and the District of Columbia… These brave came from all corners of our land to answer the call of duty.
Looking towards the Pacific Side.
And looking towards the Atlantic sign.
Looking back to the Washington Monument.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt helped to rally much of the spirit against the axis powers, and for most of the war, led the country with resolution and strength… his terrific oratorical skills were hard to match, particularly following Pearl Harbor.
What else need be said here? Words cannot describe the pain and anguish in each of these stars, their importance becoming hundred-fold.
Some fresh wreaths left behind by the veterans from earlier. The quote above is from President Harry S. Truman, who suceeded Roosevelt upon his death, and ended the War in the Pacific via two atomic bomb droppings on Japan.
The Texas pillar. Its special to see it represented here at such a quality memorial.
Looking towards the Lincoln Memorial, and the Reflecting Pool.
We soon began our approach along the Reflecting Pool…
This poor little thing was alone by itself, unaccompanied by the other older ducks that frequented the pool.
The three virtuous women, “Faith, Hope, and Love”… One praying on the ground in Faith, one looking up in the sky with Hope,
The next memorial was much more solemn… and a much more controversial conflict…
Vietnam War Memorial
This memorial casts a giant black gash across the National Mall… a bitter scar that will forever remain in society’s mind.
Name after name… thousands upon thousands…the War in Vietnam brought to light the brutalities of war, and debunked much of the over-glorification of war as a triumphant subject.
Those soldiers left behind more wreaths to honor the remembered dead…
As well as other effects such as notes, flowers, and even vodka. Only a relative or friend of a departed soldier could truly understand the misery and grief that is involved with such buisness…
But yet, one still feels that sense of loss as well… I had tears in my eyes… and i’m sure many others did as well.
The next memorial is perhaps the most famous one of them all…
Lincoln Memorial
Enshrining the memory of perhaps our greatest President, the Lincoln Memorial is a landmark in itself, and is known far and wide to millions of people.
It was even bigger than I ever remembered it to be…
Several California Police officers had also come to pay homage here (Who knows how they got their motorcycles all the way from California, but they’ve come a long way)!
Looking down the mall, one can see the Washington Monument, as well as the U.S. Capitol further in the distance.
On this very tile, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I have a Dream” speech, to thousands of people that observed along the entire Pool.
Just imagine, thousands as far as the eye could see… And he saw that with his own eyes, right here in this perspective. Only months later, President Kennedy would be gunned down.
In we go…
The legend of Abraham Lincoln is known far and wide, and most know him as this grandiose persona instead of that of the humble man that came from the backwoods of Illinois. His character however, demands much more respect… after all, who else could bear the burden of the Civil War like he did?
Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, which he delivered at the dedication of the National Cemetery at the Gettysburg Battlefield. Though short in length, it was packed with the finest of Lincoln’s oratorical skills.
And his Second Inaugural Address was also infused with his great wisdom… his commitment to his ideals was only made more special with his martyrdom.
This shot looks almost picturesque (not just because it is indeed a picture), especially with the Washington Monument in the background.
We continued on to the last of the war memorials on our list… Korea.
Korean War Memorial
Yet another battle that can be argued as a non-winning battle, the Korean War only provided a tense stalemate that still lasts to this day.
19 Soliders upon the 38th Parallel… just a couple of years after the conclusion of World War II, many were sent out into the field again, into completely foreign territory to combat the new rise of fear… Communism.
Each warrior is instilled with terrific detail. The creators of the memorial certainly had outdone themselves.
When it rains, the memorial is even more accurate, with the stones reflecting up at the soldiers, creating the 38th parallel.
Even the soldiers who die in these stalemate wars still deserve all the merit that we can lay upon them… after all, they still vowed to protect their loved ones and country. That is a detail that cannot be ignored.
Eating Lunch, we then proceeded to the three memorials situated around the Tidal Basin of Washington.
Jefferson Memorial
One of the “Big Three” memorials (also including Washington and Lincoln), the Jefferson Memorial honors one of our most esteemed founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson.
This impressive building, though with slightly less traffic than the others, is no doubt an impressive structure no matter what.
Those policemen were also here too! They were quite a popular sight with the tourists, many of which took pictures of them! With a fun-loving group like the squad (they often joked and talked a lot), it gives me a bit of optimism…
Let’s go inside.
This is an absolutely massive statue, commemorating the statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, planter, founding father, and President.
And there’s me to scale. It made me dizzy whenever I looked up at the high-vaulted ceiling.
Jefferson, though he owned slaves, was an idealist, and he truly knew what he was talking about when he wrote that “All Men are Created Equal…” Though in different context in today’s terms, it’s message still rings true. it was this mantra after all, that made the United States into what it is today. And of course, it will be our job to ensure that it remains so.
My mom and I at the giant pillars. This place has a terrific view of the surrounding area.
In particular, two things stood out.
The White House far in the distance…
And the MLK Memorial to boot!
For our second-to-last memorial, we visited yet another place dedicated to a president…
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial
This memorial, unique from the others, covers a lot of ground, and actually is painted out like a story.
Though raising controversy at it’s reveal, this statue of FDR in his wheelchair is perhaps proper… it is important to paint the proper picture of this special man. After all, even if he was crippled with polio, he still led us through 12 critical years of the presidency, through the Great Depression and World War II.
Wartime Presidents tend to be the forgers of our best leaders, but they always take their toll on them… Roosevelt was no exception.
A “room” in the Memorial.
Roosevelt in his “Yalta Conference” cloak, accompanied by his beloved dog Fala… FDR absolutley adored Fala, who loved being in the spotlight and interest of the nation… he is perhaps the only presidential pet honored in such a way.
Aside from the slight greenish age, the statue looks very realistic and detailed.
Many jobless individuals were forced to resort to makeshift-kitchens to rely on food… it was a difficult time, and one that those who had lived to remember it, such as my maternal grandmother, would never wish to happen to their family ever again…
And yet, FDR’s famous “Fireside Chats” were legendary, for the first time, his voice could reach out to the common people. They inspired hope and optimistic prospects in individuals, and helped to see the people of America through such a difficult time.
These falls were supposed to represent his championship of the Tennessee Valley Authority, which enabled hydroelectric power to surrounding communities. Unfortunately, the water tanks were out of commission. Were that not the case, they would look something like this breathtaking picture.
Eleanor Roosevelt was a power-tool of FDR, for she was his eyes and ears in the more out-of-reach places. She was a true emissary of the U.S., and her work towards the founding of the United Nations is also valued.
The four freedoms… the basic rights of man that FDR noted that every individual should have.
His goals can be considered both wise and responsible, for individuals themselves, though they could rely on their government when times turned bad, could still rely on themselves thanks to their new resources and improved-way of life. You’ve got to admire that… of course, we’ll explore more of his story in Hyde Park, in several days…
MLK Memorial
The final memorial which we visited was the Martin Luther King Jr, Memorial.
This was another special view of the Jefferson Memorial. When late March and early April comes around, the entire tidal basin is surrounded by the pink flashes of Cherry Blossoms, which are a signature tree and symbol of Washington D.C. Of course, that time is now past, and not yet ripe for next season…
The MLK Memorial is only 8 years old, yet is just as proper for D.C.’s setting as any other memorial.
The idea behind this monument came from the phrase “Out of The Mountain of Despair, A Stone of Hope”. That stone of course, was Martin Luther King Jr. the promoter of non-violence for racial equality and justice. His faith in the goodness of man and the brotherhood of friendship was undoubtedly vital to the essence of our nation’s survival…
Yet another very intricate statue.
The Stone of Hope.
It wasn’t very easy to push these two rocks apart… they are absoultely HEAVY.
At this point, I was suffering from Heat Exaustion, so I was a bit out of it by the time we arrived back at the Hotel later on.
After taking a bit of a break, we ate in Chinatown, a special place ripe with Asian Culture.
It was a nice little excursion. We eventually found a very good restaurant to eat at.
We chuckled at this a bit.
And look! A bit of surprise as well! Mrs. Surratt’s Boardinghouse was where the conspirators of John Wilkes Booth sought to decapitate the entire Union Government by killing it’s highest officials. Booth was the only one to successfully carry out his part in the infamous task.
The food was absolutely delicious… And this was the first time I have ever used Chopsticks to eat actual Chinese Food! It was fun adapting to it, but it is NOT easy! I suppose I need more practice.
And finally, the ornate gate of Chinatown. This is similar to San Francisco’s Chinatown, though on a much smaller scale.
And that was our latest day in Washington! Our next agenda is the Capitol Building itself, with a specialized tour from our U.S. Representative’s office, and perhaps even some other surprises afterwards!
Thanks everyone, and as they say in Italy (instead of in China, since i’ve no clue how to say bye in Chinese), Ciao!
Mark's Historical Roadtrips! 