Beautiful day, beautiful memorials
Emmitsburg, MD
I’ve been pulled to revisit the memorial on the National Emergency Training Center campus since my previous trip last year, and finally got around to it today.
The National Fallen Firefighters annual Memorial Weekend is coming up the first weekend in October. The new 2008 plaque will be ceremonially added to the monument wall at that point, so I wanted to squeeze in my visit before that. It may seem strange I want to go before the new plaque is added, but to me it seems that event represents the ‘next year’ and I would have already broken my newly established annual tradition. I know silly, but that’s how my mind works.
9/11 Memorial: To Lift a Nation
To Lift a Nation
FF George Johnson, of Ladder 157
FF Dan McWilliams, of Ladder 157
FF Billy Eisengrein, of Rescue 2
The statue is a three-times larger than life recreation of Thomas Franklin’s Pulitzer Prize-winning photo, Raising the Flag on Ground Zero, from Sept. 11, 2001. It’s quite stunning.
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial
Fallen Firefighters Memorial, with flags at half-staff
Memorial dedication plaque
Wall of Honor
The memorial flags are currently at half staff in honor to two fire personnel recently lost in service. FF/Operator Ricky Christiana, of Louisiana’s David Crockett Volunteer Fire Company 2, was killed during a structural fire operation on 9/11/2009. Firefighter Terry Sharon, of Kentucky’s Monterey Fire Department, died on 9/13/2009 as a result of an vehicular accident returning from a call.
The memorial plaques are now placed on the Wall of Honor, which holds the list of fallen personnel since 2004. The plaques from 1981 to 2003 encircle the stone monument.
Walk of Honor
9/11 Memorial Section of the Walk
The Walk of Honor includes brick sold by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in order to collect funds to expand and maintain the Memorial Park. They include individual purchases in memory of loved ones, section of various fire company’s honoring their fallen brothers and the Foundation recognizing their major donors.
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Chapel
Memorial Chapel
Today’s Flickr set: memorial photos
Paying tribute to our community heroes
Emmitsburg, MD
I decided to stop at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial on the National Emergency Training Center campus. I’ve wanted to visit for a number of years, but it was always ‘too far’ or I was ‘too busy’ going elsewhere to stop. However, honestly, the problem is that it’s one of the places I always chicken out in going. I’ve been worried I’d be overwhelmed by feelings, which is something I try to avoid.
I spent my college and the first half of my grad school years volunteering at a local fire station. My work was mainly as an EMT, however, to compile with the station’s regulations, I was trained as a firefighter. I usually left the fire stuff for any and everyone else at the station, which no one complained about and stuck to my ambulance calls. However, as one might expect, I couldn’t avoid the engine completely and worked my fair share of fires and such incidents.
I’ve witnessed a few in-service deaths in my time and have been to those firefighters’ funerals. They are experiences drenched in emotions and seeing those names on the memorial could be a little too personal for a Sunday morning walk, however, I still wanted to do it. Despite being afraid of the feelings that might come up, I’ve also wanted to visit for that exact reason. It is something personal. It’s something I should have done a long time ago, but perhaps, it’s better late than never. I spend most Sundays in the general direction of the campus to watch my volleyball team play, so why not take advantage.
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial
2000-03 plaques
The stone monument is encircled by plaques listing all fire service personnel who have died on duty since 1981. The names are organized by state on plaques, which are in order of the year. September 11, 2001 has its own plaque between 2001 and 2002 to list the large number of firefighters lost that day in New York.
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Chapel
Memorial Chapel, with the Walk of Honor
The chapel is used during the annual Memorial Weekend for a private service for families, is open for reflection, and for part of the ceremonies honoring those who were lost the previous year.
Walk of Honor
New York Fire Department
PG County, MD Fire/EMS Dept
The bricks for the walk, a relatively new addition, are sold by the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation to collect funds to create, expand and maintain the Memorial Park. Each brick is inscribed with a personal message or is placed to recognize the foundation’s big donors.
9/11 Memorial: To Life a Nation
The statue is a 40-foot-tall sculpture of Thomas E. Franklin’s Pulitzer Prizing winning photograph, Raising the Flag on Ground Zero.
I’m glad that I went. Definitely worth it. The memorials are stunning. The location is very fitting. I had to stop at the security office to check in, but it wasn’t a big ordeal. I had to show my ID, register my car and was given a parking pass, then allowed to wander the Memorial Park freely.
Today’s Flickr set: memorial photos
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
Another afternoon spent in DC and Arlington
I had a softball tournament this weekend, however my team did not do so well this morning in the playoff portion. We were one-and-done, unexpectedly leaving another afternoon free. Boo. So, with my extra time, I decided to tackle one of my unfinished trips – visiting the Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington. I wanted to see the memorial during my last trip to the cemetery, however I ran out of steam before reaching it. That means I’ve been obsessing over ever since. Now, I have the time and I was on a mission!
Washington, DC
Despite my end goal, I still started in DC and walked down. What can I say, I had a lot of time to kill and energy to walk off.
War Memorials
WWII Memorial & Rainbow Pool
Korean War Memorial
I started at the Navy Memorial again, and stopped along the way at the various military memorials between the Washington and Lincoln Memorials, including the local World War I Memorial. I didn’t even know that one was there, I just happened to stumble across it as I wandered down the sideway. The National World War II Memorial is one of my favorites. It’s gorgeous and very fitting. Although, it’s hard to really compare them, since I like all three major national war memorials. All three are highly symbolic and humbling.
The Korean War Veterans’ Memorial, my favorite to photograph, includes nineteen larger than life statues of soldiers on patrol, which combine with the 19 reflected in the mural wall to create a 38 member platoon, representing the 38th Parallel. The individuals represent members of all four US Military branches, as well as various races. The mural, called the ‘wall of faces,’ is a collage of sketched military personnel, ends at the reflection pool. Also included in the memorial is a list of the 22 nations that joined us in the fight. It’s a masterpiece.
Presidential Memorials
FDR Memorial, “Room Three”
Jefferson Memorial
The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is huge, but what else would be expected considering the man served as President for twelve years. There’s a lot to cover. The memorial is separated into four “rooms” representing each of his four Presidential terms, with various statues and/or bronze plaques depicting significant events during those years, such as the New Deal and WWII. Several of his quotes are inscribed throughout the memorial. Each room has some type of water fountain or pool. Eleanor is also honored near the back of the memorial.
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is a little out of the way and I’m not sure of a convenient route to reach it except by hopping on a tour bus. It’s a hike otherwise, as it’s not really close to a Metro Station. But, the walk is worth it, if you’re up to it. From the Lincoln Memorial it’s just around the Tidal Basin, with the FDR and George Mason Memorials scattered the way. Of course, in the spring the walk is lined by the area’s Cherry Blossoms, which could also help.
Arlington, VA
So, over Memorial Bridge and into Virginia.
Arlington National Cemetery
Women in Military Service for America Memorial
Curtis Walk
I didn’t linger around the cemetery too long this trip because I was determined to reach the USMC Memorial, which is on a hill just outside of the cemetery’s northern gate, before I ran out of steam. I really just bee-lined it through part of the cemetery.
Memorials
Iwo Jima Statue
Netherlands Carillon
The United States Marine Corps War Memorial is a large sculpture of Joe Rosenthal’s 1945 Pulitzer Prize winning photo, Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. Each figure stands about ten-feet tall. The flag is one of the few official locations authorized to fly the flag 24 hours a day. The base of the memorial is inscribed with two inscriptions, including “Uncommon Valor is a Common Virtue,” as well as all military engagements involving the Marines. It was all I had hoped and definitely worth the extra effort!
The Netherlands Carillon is between the cemetery and the USMC Memorial. It was a gift from the Dutch in appreciation for aid during WWII. The bells at the top of the 40-foot tower play Westminster Chimes on the hour and American patriotic music twice a day.
Today’s Flickr set: area photos
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