This morning, I looked out my window and the weather in Washington, D.C., was gorgeous! It’s a good thing too because today’s visits required some walking.
At 9 a.m., we departed from the hotel to visit Arlington National Cemetery. First, we stopped at the gravesite of the John Fitzgerald Kennedy. We stood and watched the eternal flame flicker in the breeze over the gravesite of our 35th President. The flame has burned brightly for 47 years since that tragic day in Dallas. His wife Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy is laid to rest next to him. I stood there and looked at their black headstones and wondered what the world would have been like if they were alive today. I have never visited a cemetery before today, and I will never forget this experience.
Robert Francis Kennedy’s grave is just around the corner from JFK’s gravesite. His grave is marked by a simple white cross and headstone. Very different in comparison to his brother’s gravesite. We then took a tram to our next destination. Along the way, we saw seemingly endless rows of white headstones. I learned that there are more than 300,000 people buried in Arlington, making it the second largest national cemetery in the United States.
When the tram stopped we got off to see the Tomb of the Unknowns. Fortunately, we were just in time to see the famed “changing of the guard,” which happens at the top and bottom of every hour, 365 days a year. It was incredible to watch in silence as the Tomb Guard sentinel paced back and forth, taking precision in every movement. The ceremony reminded me of the honor and respect due to the troops who guard our freedom every day.
After leaving Arlington, we visited the Mall — no, not the type with stores and a food court — but the main strip of grass and monuments that runs west of the Capitol. As we got off the bus Mike handed each delegate a museum map, $15.00 for lunch and told us to be back at 4:30 p.m. We then took several hours to explore the different Smithsonian museums that line each side of the Mall.
I saw the original ruby red slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" in the Museum of American History. One of my mother's favorite movies! I know one thing... I am definately not in Missouri anymore! Washington, D.C. is fantastic! A painting by Andy Warhol in the American Art Museum and Charles Lindberg’s “Spirit of St. Louis” plane in the Air and Space Museum. There was so much to see and do at those museums that we just couldn’t squeeze everything into several hours. Hopefully, we’ll get a chance to go back later this week.
Finally, we left the Mall and ate dinner before traveling to the shore of the Potomac River. There, we boarded a three-story boat for a cruise along the river. It was great!
We danced, talked and laughed for four hours while the sun set over the nation’s capitol. Mike, our fearless leader, even got out on the dance floor and showed us a few moves!
When the boat arrived back at the shore around 10:30, we boarded the bus and went back to our hotel rooms. My roommates and I ordered a pizza and talked for an hour before going to bed. I really can’t believe the weekend’s already over!
