This is how we did our traveling if we weren't on the bus- the Metro System, we finally had it figured out by the last day, but it is a totally different world down in the Metro. I was really impressed with Washington DC, it was very clean, I think we saw 1 panhandler and very few street vendors. But maybe it was the time of year also.
All around DC, alot of buildings looked like this, lots and lots of buildings have pillars- I thought all the architecture of buildings were super neat.
On one day we had a few hours, so we decided to go to the National Archieves were the Declaration of Independance is, the Magna Carta, 13th Ammendemnt, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Lots of gaurds in that building!! No pictures allowed, the lights were very dim, and these are kept under special glass. The writing is fading on these, but the handwriting is beatiful!
After that we headed over to the Smithsonian American History Museum to see the Star Spangled Banner- the flag was huge! It is also in a very dim room with very protective glass. We walked around the museum a little bit and saw very neat things. We also went to the Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Museum.
One of the very first trains in US
This is a statue of General Scott Hancock- which I have an Uncle named Scott Hancock.
Dorthy's Shoes from Wizard of Oz. We also saw all the 1st ladies inaguration dresses- they were amazing and beatiful.
The Hope Diamond- the largest blue diamond to be found- it has been cut down to fit this setting.
We had a second day of meeting with Senators, Zak and I were assigned to Senator Hatch- we had an assigned issue to discuss with him. He gave us all a flag that was flown above the Capitol in our honor, the flag we received was flown for us on Jan. 3, 2011.
Before this trip I was pretty critical of what our Senators were doing. But after meeting with them, and them talking to us, I got so much of a bigger picutre and most are in agreement with what we want in ways of agriculture! They are working hard and I would never, never want their job, they have to know so much and understand so much!
My favorite part of this trip was going to Arlington Cemetery- it was very spiritual here. I couldn't believe how big this cemetery was.
In the cemetery their is a memorial for JFK and he and his wife and child are buried there. I loved this quote from him.
One of Arlington Cemetery guards- they gaurd the tomb of the unkown soldiers, 24 7, 365 days a year, I didn't realize they did it through the night. Everything they did was precise, perfect, like watching a dance, very neat.
Right above the cemetery is Robert E. Lee's house, the cemetery was his plantation. Robert E. Lee was the captain of the Confederate Army. But the most interesting thing was that Robert E. Lee was married to George Washington's granddaughter! But Robert E. Lee was asked to lead the Union Army, but he lived in Virginia , and Virginia agreed with the lower states, Lee felt like he needed to support his state, therefore that is why he lead the confederate army, not necissarily that he agreed with them, but had very strong ties to his state. This house was built by George Washington's son- 8,000 square foot home, and the view from this house was amazing! The Federal Government took over his home and plantation at the end of the war, to kind of spite him is the impression I got.
Changing of the gaurd- this was so neat to watch.
During the Wreath Ceremony
John Hancock's grave, he was a general or captain in the Civil War.
We were able to take a tour of Robert E. Lee's house:
The Cemetery initial started with 12 grave- this is one of the 12, these 12 are right next to the house.
It was a very touching place, and put a realization on what our nation has been through and how many have died for our nation and our freedom and rights.
I'm so glad I got to go on this trip, it was such a learning experience and I am so thankful for our founding fathers of this Nation, what they fought for, their courage, their persistance, and for their brains- they were very intelligent men!! I am very happy we got to meet with the Senators- I really was dreading this part of the trip, but it opened my eyes, I got to see how the system works and that was very intersting to me!
