Eyes have been turned to Arlington Cemetery today, as Senator Edward M. Kennedy is laid to rest near his two brothers, President John F. Kennedy, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy.  The trio is reunited again, ending a generation that committed itself to public service.  The eternal flame, the hallmark of the JFK gravesite, burns brighter at their reunion.
Visitors to the nation’s capital, have long made Arlington Cemetery an important visitation spot, and the Kennedy gravesite is one of the most popular stopping spots in the cemetery, the other being the Tomb of the Unknown.  When I visited the cemetery, those …read more

Independence Day was commemorated with ceremonies, including a 21 gun salute, on the grounds of the Netherlands Carillon, in front of the Marine Corps War Memorial.

 
Photo credit:  Jon Rochetti, c. 2006

 
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died while in service to their country.  It is a small way to honor those who gave their lives that we may live in freedom and prosperity.
 

Adjacent to the Netherlands Carillon and the tulip gardens is the Marine Corps War Memorial. 
Dedicated to all Marines who have lost their life in the service to their country, this statue commemorates one of the most famous events of World War II, raising the flag on Iwo Jima. 
The flag raising was originally captured in a Pulitzer Prize winning photograph, and was the basis for the sculpture.  The figures stand 32 feet high, and are shown raising a 60-foot flagpole.  By Presidential Proclamation, a cloth flag flies 24 hours a day from the flagpole.  At the base of the memorial is a …read more

In spring there is so much color in the world.  One of my favorite colorful spots in Washington DC is the Netherlands Carillon (photo at left courtesy of National Park System.
Located on the Virginia shore of the Potomac River, opposite the district and bordering the northern end of Arlington National Cemetery, the Carillon is adjacent to the Unites States Marine Corps War Memorial.
 
Set among thousands of tulips in a park setting, the 127-foot high tower, containing 49 bells, was a gift to the American people from the Dutch.  It was a symbol of friendship characterized by a common allegiance to the …read more