Let Freedom Ring

cs, myself and two other couples decided to go to Washington (DC that is.) If it was good enough for Mr. Smith, then by golly, it was good enough for us. We left on Wednesday, October 20th flying from SLC to Denver (flight delayed for an hour) and then on to Reagan airport in DC. The pilot slammed on the brakes as soon as we landed. (cs later informed me that was because Reagan airport has a very, very short runway.)

This was taken the day of our departure.

We landed around 11:00 pm (DC time). The airport was pretty much deserted. It felt as though the last one out turn off the lights and close the door type of feeling.

We got to our Columbia Heights Brownstone that we had rented for the week.

3222 13th St NW (Columbia Heights Area)

The next morning we started seeing all of the sights (I can't keep them in order, but I'll list all that I can remember): Library of Congress — saw the Gutenberg Bible and the ornate walls and paintings.

Holocaust Museum - very moving.

Washington monument (rode to the top and looked out).

Tour of the Capital building. Kennedy Center for dinner, then a Yo Yo Ma concert at the center. 3 encores.

Mount Vernon to see where George Washington slept. The house looked like it was made of stone, but it was wood, cut to look like stone. When they painted it they threw sand on the wet paint to give it the rough feel of stone. Also saw George's wooden teeth that are really made of hippopotamus ivory.

Several of the Smithsonian Institutes — saw the original Star Spangled Banner flag. Dorothy's ruby slippers. Fonzie's leather jacket. First ladies' inaugural dress exhibit and cs' favorite — Julia Child's kitchen. The Apollo spacecraft.

A night tour to see the Jefferson Memorial, the FDR Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. We also saw the Korean Memorial and the Viet Nam Memorial. It was dark, but I was able to find my cousin's name.

White House tour. WW II Memorial. National Archives to see the Magna Carta, Bill of Rights, Constitution of the United States of America, and the Declaration of Independence. Drove past the Washington DC temple at night — beautiful.

Georgetown and rode a mule pulled barge on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. Saw the Washington National Cathedral and then out to Arlington National Cemetery to see the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Molly & Nell

We've still got another day to see more and then head back home on Tuesday. Seeing all of the historical documents, monuments to the presidents and the war heroes, and the many, many quotes in stone and the many references to God and his help in forming this country makes me proud to be an American and grateful for the freedom that we enjoy in this great nation — the United States of America.

God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever. Commerce between master and slave is despotism. Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than these people are to be free. Establish the law for educating the common people. This it is the business of the state to effect and on a general plan. 

Thomas Jefferson