The city prepped for Tuesday’s Inauguration
The big event in the area, as one might expect, is Tuesday’s Presidential Inauguration. Not wanting to miss out completely, I decided to venture downtown DC to see how things are shaping up there.
US Capitol
US Capitol & frozen Reflecting Pool
Capitol & seating
Inaugural Platform at the Capitol
The preparations at the Capitol are looking near completion. The seating is lined up. The decorations up. There really is an excitement in the air around here.
Prep & Parade Route
Pennsylvania Avenue, with a view of the Capitol
Lining the National Mall
World Newspapers at the Newsuem
DC & US Flags
There are flags all over the place and ‘Congrats’ signs for Obama pasted on most buildings. Fences and bleachers are being set up along Pennsylvania Avenue. Today’s front-pages from around the world displayed at the Newseum, a museum dedicated to the press, is covered with news regarding our soon-to-be-new President.
White House
Currently ‘vacant’ White House
The north side of the White House was very busy with preparations, so I didn’t bother walking through there. It seemed like too much to fight. I’m not even sure I would have been permitted in the area. They actually had security personnel stationed along the road.
Memorials
Inland Engagements Bronze Relief at the US Navy Memorial
Civil War Artilleryman, part of the William T. Sherman Memorial
Adm. David G. Farragut Memorial, in Farragut Square
To spice things up, I did stop at a few memorials located along the way, including the US Navy Memorial. I also caught the Sherman and Farragut Memorials close to the White House as well. Sherman is the infamous Civil War general who marched through the south and eventually ended the war. Farragut, a Civil War officer, was the first to reach the rank of Admiral.
Today’s Flickr set: city pics
Slowing down… in DC
I tried to brave a walk along the National Mall this morning, but it wasn’t in the cards. Today has been a rough one for me physically. I struggled. After an hour, most of which was spent sitting on a bench trying to recover, I decided to call it quits. It happens, I guess. I’ve pushed myself too much over the past month and it’s caught up with me. Recovering feels so painstakingly slow at times.
Random Sites
National Art Gallery’s National Sculpture Garden
US & MIA-POW flags at the WWII Memorial
Maryland pillar the WWII Memorial
City Wildlife
Crow
Gray Squirrel
Like I said, there wasn’t much to my walk. I didn’t even feel up to taking many pictures from the short period I was out there. It’s kind of sad, but true. I realize recovering from this accident is going to be a longer process than I’d like it to be. It’s frustrating. Oh well, that’s life I guess.
Today’s Flickr set: city pics
One day, two Balto neighborhoods
It was a beautiful day to be out, so I strolled through pieces of Baltimore City. The trip didn’t require much walking, as I just stopped at Federal Hill Park and Mount Vernon Square, but it was nice. It let me get out of the house for a bit, but wasn’t overwhelming.
Federal Hill
Neighborhood
As mentioned, I didn’t walk around the neighborhood much. Really, I just parked there and went straight to the park. It’s US Historic District scattered with registered rowhouses. It’s also a pretty happening place with a wide variety of small shops, restaurants and bars.
Federal Hill Park
View of the Inner Harbor from the park
MG Samuel Smith statue with US flag
A community park stills on top of the actually hill, which overlooks the Inner Harbor. Not a bad place to hang out. The hill came to be known as Federal Hill after a celebration in 1789 for the approval of the US (Federal) Constitution. There are a few statues and memorials spread out through the park, including one of Samuel Smith. Smith, who later served as Maryland’s US Senator and Baltimore’s Mayor, commanded the state’s militia during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814. There are also a few canons lining the edge of the hill pointed towards downtown as an eerie reminder of the Union occupation of the location during the Civil War in order to ensure the city and state remained true to the Federal cause.
Mount Vernon
Neighborhood
West Mount Vernon Place
View north from the top of the Washington Monument
After a short drive north on Charles Street, I stopped for a visit at the Mt. Vernon Place, which is a combination of four small rectangular parks extending from the central point of the city’s Washington Monument. It’s another neighborhood with some impressive architecture and historic homes, as well as various cultural centers, including JHU’s Peabody Institute and several art museums.
Mount Vernon Place
Washington Monument
Antoine-Louis Barye’s Peace sculpture
Military Courage with the Washington Monument in the background
The park is a nice little oasis in the bustling city. Benches line the sidewalks, two fountains sit in the middle of two of the areas, and statues are scattered throughout the cross-shaped courtyard. The bronze Antoine-Louis Barye sculptures War, Peace, Force and Order mark the corners of the east and west parks.
Today’s Flickr set: city photos
A Red Ribbon at the White House
Honestly, I had originally planned to visit Dover, DE today, however, I couldn’t get moving early enough to make the trip. For whatever reason, it was just very difficult getting out of bed. I didn’t want to do it, so I adjusted. Instead of driving a few hours, I chose some place closer, which would be… DC. Yep, just hopped on the Metro.
City Scenes
12th Street NW
Corner of New York Ave & 15th Street
US Treasury Building
Andrew Mellon Building
Heritage Statue at the National Archives
Library of Congress’ Thomas Jefferson Building
My main points of interest today were the White House and US Capitol, but I caught a few things during my walk in-between. It was an amazingly clear day, but rather cold. It’s going to be tough continuing through the winter. I’m not geared to deal well with cold, but I’ll push through I’m sure.
White House
Red World AIDs Day Ribbon on the North side of the White House
South side of the White House
National Christmas Tree (pre-lighting), with the Washington Monument in the background
A friend of mine reminded me the White House was displaying a red ribbon for World AIDs Day today, which is one of the main reasons I made the trip downtown. I wanted to catch this small one-day special ‘event’ and I did. On the other side of the building, they are finishing their preparations for tomorrow’s National Tree lighting. Tents and seating are being set up on the Ellipse.
US Capitol
US Capitol Building
Capitol Christmas Tree (pre-lighting), with a view of the National Mall
The Capital Tree is from Vermont this year, and will be lit later this week. They are obviously still decorating it. I might make it out to see both in all their glory later this month, but no promises.
Today’s Flickr set: city pics
DC to Arlington, again.
So, today’s trip was just my normal stroll through the Nation’s Capital, ending in the country’s most hallow ground, Arlington National Cemetery. It’s becoming a rather standard trip for me, from the Navy Memorial to Arlington Metro stations. I’m not complaining. It’s a wonderful route. The memorials and cemetery are still moving, and I assume will always be. That’s why I continue to go. Anyway, on to the good stuff… my pictures.
District of Columbia
Parks
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
Constitution Gardens
I quickly bypassed the east end of the National Mall and made my way down towards the Lincoln Memorial. I had briefly passed through the Constitutional Gardens during a previous walk, but today, I spent a little more time there. Really, it’s was a great time to hang out in that small section of the city. The leaves were gorgeous. The park surrounds a relatively hidden lake to the north of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. It’s a nice little spot. I’d add it to my list of places to spread out a blanket, pack a lunch and spend an afternoon lying around.
War Memorials
World War II Memorial & Washington Monument
Vietnam Women/Nurses’ Memorial, with “The Wall” in the background
Navy Medical Corpsman, part of the Korean War Memorial’s Platoon of Statues
The memorials were especially beautiful today. The trees around the Korean and Vietnam Veteran War Memorials were absolutely gorgeous. The trees around the Vietnam Memorial were a nice light yellow and those behind the Korean War Memorial were a bright orange. It’s as if the soldier statues are marching out of a fire.
This morning’s Flickr set: DC photos
Arlington
So, across the Arlington Memorial Bridge, over the Potomac River, I went…
US Marine Corps War Memorial
Harlon Block, killed in action, & Rene Gagnon, part of the Iwo Jima Statue
My goal in Arlington was actually to visit the US Marine Corps War Memorial, so I bee-lined it to the statue. I’ve learned if I put that little destination near the tail end of my route, it will ultimately get skipped. After spending hours walking up and down the cemetery’s hills, marching over to the Marine Corps Memorial seems like a near impossible task. So, to combat my lack of super endurance, I made it my first point of interest today in Virginia and the plan worked.
The memorial’s statue is a recreation of news-photographer Joe Rosenthal’s 1945 Pulitzer Prize-winning picture, “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.” The photograph, and ultimately the statue, depicts the five Marines and a Navy Med Corpsman raise a flag atop Mount Suribach during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Clay face molds were made for the three surviving ‘flag-raisers’ and pictures were used for the other three in the process of sculpting the individual statues.
Arlington National Cemetery
After visiting the memorial, I wandered around the cemetery until I felt I could no longer walk.
~Individuals~
Cpl Rene A. Gagnon, USMC
Pierre Charles L’Enfant, with a view of Washington, DC
SgtMaj Frank A. Young, USMC
As with all my walks through the cemetery, I found a number of interesting people. I might have said this before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again, but it’s certainly humbling to spend time within the confines of Arlington. If you pay close enough attention, you can find some amazing stories and/or people connected some of the countries most memorable moments. These are the people that were there.
Rene Gagnon , one of the Iwo Jima flag-raisers, rests just inside the north gate near the USMC Memorial. I assume that isn’t a coincidence. He carried the second flag up Mount Suribach in February 1945 and helped raise the replacement flag, a feat immortalized by Rosenthal’s photo. As one of three surviving flag-raisers, he returned to the US for the Seventh War Bond Drive, an experience told in James Bradley’s book and Clint Eastwood’s 2008 movie Flags of Our Fathers.
Peirre L’Enfant, a French-born Continental Army officer, served as a military engineer under Lafayette and later on George Washington’s staff. He was wounded during the Siege of Yorktown and remained with the Army at Valley Forge. After the war, Washington assigned him the task of designing the Nation’s capital, but was dismissed after drafting a plan, which was used by the McMillian Commission as a foundation for its final blueprint. He now rests near the Arlington House, with a gorgeous view of the city he helped design.
Frank Young, was a US Marine during the Chinese Relief Expedition, or Boxer Rebellion. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the Siege of Peking between June 20 to July 16, 1900.
~Tomb of the Unknown Soldier~
Tomb & Old Guard Sentinel
Exchange of Orders during the Changing of the Guard Ceremony
My last stop in the cemetery, as usual, was at the Tomb of the Unknown. I watched the Changing of the Guard Ceremony, then headed out. The Old Guard Sentinels were all decked out in their winter gear. Honestly, I think I took some of my better shots of ‘event’ today. I’m somewhat impressed.
This afternoon’s Flickr set: cemetery pics
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