A Day to Remember ~ Arlington National Cemetery

Remembering those who sacrificed for our country and praying for those who are serving our country now in harms way.

“Arlington, this place of so many memories, is a fitting place for some remembering. So many wonderful men and women rest here, men and women who led colorful, vivid, and passionate lives.” ~ Ronald Reagan

“All of these men were different, but they shared this in common: They loved America very much. There was nothing they wouldn’t do for her. And they loved with the sureness of the young. It’s hard not to think of the young in a place like this, for it’s the young who do the fighting and dying when a peace fails and a war begins.” ~ President Ronald Reagan

“Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It’s a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in this cemetery and others. It’s a day to be with the family and remember.” President Ronald Reagan

This next photo is not from the Arlington National Cemetery but one I took at a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in D.C.

“The monument was created as a service to those who might never travel to the nation’s capital to experience the Vietnam Veterans Memorial firsthand,” said Donna Wagner, director of Dignity Memorial providers in Seattle. “Our replica offers visitors a chance for healing and reflections, and we are very pleased to be able to share it with the community.” ~ Donna Wagner

Another quote from President Ronald Reagan ~ May 25, 2009

“I know that many veterans of Vietnam will gather today, some of them perhaps by the wall. And they’re still helping each other on. They were quite a group, the boys of Vietnam — boys who fought a terrible and vicious war without enough support from home, boys who were dodging bullets while we debated the efficacy of the battle. It was often our poor who fought in that war; it was the unpampered boys of the working class who picked up the rifles and went on the march. They learned not to rely on us; they learned to rely on each other. And they were special in another way: They chose to be faithful. They chose to reject the fashionable skepticism of their time. They chose to believe and answer the call of duty. They had the wild, wild courage of youth. They seized certainty from the heart of an ambivalent age; they stood for something.

And we owe them something, those boys. We owe them first a promise: That just as they did not forget their missing comrades, neither, ever, will we. And there are other promises. We must always remember that peace is a fragile thing that needs constant vigilance. We owe them a promise to look at the world with a steady gaze and, perhaps, a resigned toughness, knowing that we have adversaries in the world and challenges and the only way to meet them and maintain the peace is by staying strong.” ~ Ronald Reagan

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Prayers are always in our hearts and minds for our Son-in-law Andrew serving with the Marines!

We’re flying the flags for you Andrew!

Semper Fi!

Photobucket replaced all my photos with blurred out versions and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

Fountains and Ford’s Theater

Jenny our faithful teacher is the hostess for Alpahbe-Thursday.

Here’s another A-Z stamp from the Postal Museum in Washington D.C. F is for Firsts!

Also from D.C. are my other choices for the letter F, fountains and the Ford Theater.

This is the fountain at Dupont Circle. In 1871 the Corps of Engineers began construction of Dupont Circle itself which at the time was called Pacific Circle. In 1882 Congress authorized a memorial statue of Rear Admiral Samuel Francis duPont in recognition of his Civil War service. The bronze statue was erected in 1884. In 1921 the statue of Dupont was replaced by a double-tiered white marble fountain. It was designed by sculptor Daniel Chester French and architect Henry Bacon. Three classical figures, symbolizing the Sea, the Stars and the Wind are carved on the fountain’s central shaft.

Ford’s Theater where President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth.

On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., where Abraham and Mary Todd were attending the play Our American Cousin. He died at 7:22 a.m. the following day, April 15th, at the Peterson Boarding House across the street from Ford’s Theatre.

Then and Now ~ D.C. Mosaics

As you can see I didn’t study my then photos very well as I stood on the opposite side of the Marine Memorial. You also have to look real hard to see me in the now photo at the right of the statue. The only chance we got to get to the Marine Memorial was during the moonlight tour. In my Capitol shots you can see how things have changed from 40 years ago.

Across the road from the Capitol you can visit the United States Botanic Garden. Here are two mosaics of some of the flowers in the garden.

My last mosaic is for my Canadian friends. Happy Victoria Day to all of you!

Join us and Mary at Little Red House to share your Mosaics.

O God, the Strength of Those Who War ~ Hymn

O God, the Strength of Those Who War

O God, the strength of those who war,
The hope of those who wait,
Be with our sons gone forth to fight,
And those who keep the gate.

Give to our hosts in battle’s hour
Firm hearts and courage high,
Thy comfort give to those who fall,
Thy peace to those who die.

Breathe on our land the spirit calm
Which faith in right bestows,
And in the hours of dark suspense
A faith which stronger grows.

In Thee alone we place our hope,
Thou Keeper of the just,
And Thou, through fight and fire and fears
Wilt justify our trust.

Thy ways are wonderful, O God,
Who makest wars to cease:
O let this be the final war
That ushers in Thy peace.

Words: William B. Carpenter (1841-1918).

Armed Forces Day

Please pray for Andrew, our son in law in the Marines. If you have someone in the military I could pray for let me know in your comment. Thank you…

I’d also like to wish our Canadian neighbors a wonderful long weekend celebrating Victoria Day.

FFF ~ D.C. and Home Again…

It’s time to reflect on our last week and pick out 5 favorites to share at Friday’s Fave Five hosted by Living to Tell the Story. Thanks Susanne for hosting this worthwhile event…

Dear and I just got back from 8 days in Washington D.C. Dear was one of the representatives of his company at the American Urological Association’s Annual Meeting. We left a couple days early so the two of us could do some sight seeing before his responsibilities began at the conference. So here are my favorites…

1. Being in our Nation’s capitol again after 40 years and having time to enjoy many of the major tourist spots.

2. Visiting Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens. This is an out of the way gem in Washington D.C. I’ll be dividing up my day there in 2 or 3 posts soon. It’s the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post.

3. Having a visit from my brother Leonard while we were in Washington D.C. He happened to be in Baltimore for business so he drove south to see us in D.C. our last evening there. We sat around and talked for a couple hours before he had to head back. We live in Seattle and Leonard lives in Dallas. What a great surprise that our paths could cross.

Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers from the Wizard of Oz. I saw them at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

4. “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.” “Oh, but anyway, Toto, we’re home. Home! And this is my room, and you’re all here. And I’m not gonna leave here ever, ever again, because I love you all, and – oh, Auntie Em – there’s no place like home”

We arrived back to Seattle with Sunshine and fresh blooms all over the yard. We are finally getting Spring here! I was so happy to fall into my own bed. It’s great to travel but it’s wonderful to come home again.

5. Katie just got back from spending time with Andrew before he leaves on deployment. On Thursday we had lunch together and then we went to Bed Bath and Beyond so she could register for the wedding in January. It was fun to click on all that fun stuff.

We have another day of sunshine here in the Seattle area. So lovely and so appreciated. We’re off today to finish up Katie and Andrew’s registry at Macy’s and Target. Later tonight we get to celebrate a dear friend’s birthday. What’s on your agenda for the day?

E is for Old Ebbitt Grill & an Old Ecuadoran…

It’s that time of the week to join Jenny for Alphabe-Thursday. I’m just back from a trip to Washington D.C. with my Dear and have some fun E’s to share.

The Postal Museum had an great A to Z exhibit and this is the display for the letter E. E is for EFOs ~ “Errors, freaks and oddities”

I’ll be sharing a new stamp display for each letter of the alphabet.

Ellen b. was ecstatic to find this great eatery in D.C. The Old Ebbitt Grill is Washington’s oldest, most historic saloon. It was founded in 1856. It has evolved over the years from a boarding house to a saloon and now to a restaurant. It also had several moves over the years and has been at this location at 675 15th St. N.W. since 1983. The brochure calls it a virtual saloon Smithsonian.

It is just a couple blocks from the White House. We were happy to be dropped off close to the front door of Ebbitt’s on our Trolley Tour. Washington D.C. is amazing to visit but your eyes and feet get tired from all the seeing and walking. You also get quite thirsty on a hot humid day.

After our crab cake sandwich we decided to share this dessert…

Ellen B. was happy to be off her feet in front of food and a drink.

On our last day in D.C. while Dear was busy at his conference I went back to Old Ebbitt for breakfast. I had strawberry french toast with ham and it was the best ham I’ve ever tasted. My breakfast was just over $10.00 with coffee included. That’s a deal in D.C.! From Ebbitt Grill I decided it was time to go get a closer view of the White House. One of my favorite experiences in D.C. happened there.

I saw an Ecuadoran family and the son asked me to take a photo of the family here with the White House in the background. After I took the photo of the family I asked the young Ecuadoran to please take my photo, too. I stepped over to the fence and the little old Ecuadoran mother wouldn’t budge from her spot. She wanted a photo with me. The son tried to convince his mother to get out of the photo but she said NO! I love this photo and I was happy to have it with her. After the son took it he finally convinced her to move out and took another photo of just me and the White House. Fun times in D.C. with my new Ecuadoran friend! Ecuadoran or Ecuadorian are both correct in referring to someone from Ecuador.

That’s a wrap for the letter E. We just got home yesterday and I’m still adjusting to the time change. Spring has finally arrived here and I’ll have to get out and mow the lawn. Hope you all have a wonderful Thursday!

The Patriot’s Prayer ~ Hymn

The Patriot’s Prayer

God of our sires that joyful sang,
While forest shades triumphant rang,
When on the wild New England shore,
Their sails were furled, their voyage o’er.
O Lord, defend Thy children yet,
Nor let our hearts Thy name forget;
O Lord, defend Thy children yet,
Nor let our hearts Thy name forget.

God of the brave that sought Thy aid,
And in Thy robe of strength arrayed,
They won for us beneath Thy care,
The flag we prize, the peace we share,
O Lord, defend our nation yet,
Nor let our hearts Thy name forget;
O Lord, defend our nation yet,
Nor let our hearts Thy name forget.

And when the call to arms again
Was heard afar o’er hill and plain,
Thy mighty hand upheld the right,
Thy love restored Thy banner bright,
O Lord, defend our nation yet,
Nor let our hearts Thy name forget;
O Lord, defend our nation yet,
Nor let our hearts Thy name forget.

God of our land, Thy gift so free,
O hear the prayer we breathe to Thee;
Let union’s bond our souls entwine,
And guard alike the palm and pine.
O Lord, defend our nation yet,
Nor let our hearts Thy name forget;
O Lord, defend our nation yet,
Nor let our hearts Thy name forget.

Words: Fanny Crosby, 1905.

District of Columbia

Dear and I are enjoying the sights in Washington D.C. but not so much the internet at our first hotel. We are moving to our new hotel today and hopefully the internet access will be more cooperative for me. I haven’t been able to load pictures onto my blog like usual. At the end of the day after seeing so much my brain goes into a very uncreative mode so I’ll save most of my D.C. posts for when I get back to Washington State. Yesterday we visited the Washington National Cathedral and did a drive by all the major D.C. stand outs. Today we are going to Arlington National Cemetery. We’ll do indoor stuff like museums after today because the weather is threatening to turn on us with rain and thunderstorms. The photo above was taken from the Tour Trolley as we passed the Capitol.

Hope all is well…

Between B.C. and D.C.

We celebrated Mother’s Day with a brunch prepared for us by our Daughter In Love.

The roses are from Josh and Laura and they also gave me a book by an author I haven’t read before. The fruit bouquet is from our daughter Katie. The past 5 days have been packed full with a trip to B.C. (British Columbia), Mother’s Day, and now we are in D.C. (Washington D.C.).

On the way we saw this and now we’ll be seeing more things like this…

Tonight we are just settling in. We walked to dinner and on our way back we saw this pretty sight…

Tomorrow we’ll jump start our Historic site watch by visiting the Washington National Cathedral.

Hope all is well where you are…

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Tag Archives: Washington D.C.