Sunday, November 21, 2010
Katy and I made it an early start while Keri and Heather slept in. We got our morning jolt of coffee and headed to the National Archives Building. On the way, we saw massive buildings such as the US Capitol, the Old Post Office, US Department of Justice and the US Navy Memorial.
We arrived at the beautiful National Archives building to view the Magna Carta, Articles of Confederation, Declaration of Independence and Constitution. After the security guard gave me attitude and I returned it with some Lauren sassyness, we were in! They had a Civil War exhibit that was really neat. We finally got to the beautiful domed room with marble floors that housed all these historical parchments. Thankfully, we were there early enough that we beat the lines. However, we did run into people whom I have now named, 'Ignorant assholes that jump in the middle of the line without knowledge or courtesy to the people around them'.
After exiting the National Archives (no sightings of Nic Cage), we realized we had some extra time so we decided to check out Ford's Theatre. On our walk, we passed this great view of the US Capitol. After taking some pictures of each other, Katy & I realized we wanted a picture of the both of us. Jumping. However, there was no one around. Then an older Vet passed us in the middle of the road. So we asked him to take our picture since our choices were limited. Well, that was a mistake. This is the best the ole Vet could capture:
This is us coming down from one of our jumps. Katy looks cute while I just look deformed. He took about three or four and could not seem to ever get it just right. So after this poor gentlemen left, we decided to take jumping pictures of each other with the following results:
We then made our way to Ford's Theatre. We were just in time for the 11:30am group which was excellent timing. The tour first takes you downstairs to the museum part of the building. It had a lot of historical information about Lincoln, his family, slavery and the Civil War. I thought this drawing was a bit off-setting:
I think the perspective is a bit off...
This is just me being a jackass. I'm pretending to be drunk and passed out. Like Grant was. All the time. Get it? Katy also asked if we should re-enact the actual shooting. But there were kids around.
This is the theatre itself and the Presidential box where the shooting took place. Booth jumped from the box onto the stage after shooting Lincoln where he fractured a bone in his leg. Before exiting the stage, the consummate actor yelled "Sic semper tyrannis!" which is Latin and means "Thus always to tyrants". What a tool bag.
After our theatre extravaganza, Katy and I headed back to the hotel to meet up with Keri & Heather. We decided to have lunch before heading to Arlington Cemetery.
View of the city from Arlington Cemetery
Arlington Cemetery was absolutely beautiful. We saw JFK & Jackie's gravesite (also there are an infant daughter and a premature infant son that are buried next to them which I did not know about). RFK and Ed Kennedy's graves are nearby.
Then we walked to the Custis-Lee Mansion. George Washington Parke Custis was the original owner of this land. The estate was passed down to his daughter, Mary Anna, who eventually married Robert E. Lee. After Lee refused Lincoln's appointment as General of the federal army, Lee hoped that Virginia would secede. When they did, he later became commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. While he was away from his estate during war time, the Union used his estate as a burial ground for Union soldiers (what better F you message than to bury soldiers in your backyard).
We then walked to the Tomb of the Unknown Civil War Soldiers, Arlington Memorial Amphitheater and then to the Tomb of the Unknowns where we watched the changing of the guard.
After this we walked by the memorials for the Challenger and Columbia tragedies. We then made our way across the cemetery to find the man who was heavily involved in our running joke of the weekend. The man. The legend. President William Howard Taft.
Now some people might call this morbid. Some people might call this inappropriate. Some horrified. Well, I just simply view it as a celebration. Of a man who got stuck in a bath tub. And had a nice mustache. Here's to you good sir.
After walking back to the parking lot, we said our goodbyes as we headed our different ways. It was a drowsy trip back to Philly but we made it back safe and sound. Harry Potter 2010 delivered. Especially for us history folk. It was a great trip with amazing friends that I am very thankful for.
Sincerely, President of Taft Fan Club
"My dear Mrs. Ryan: It's with the most profound sense of joy that I write to inform you your son, Private James Ryan, is well and, at this very moment, on his way home from European battlefields. Reports from the from the front indicate James did his duty in combat with great courage and steadfast dedication, even after he was informed of the tragic loss your family has suffered in this great campaign to rid the world of tyranny and oppression. I take great pleasure in joining the Secretary of War, the men and women of the U.S. Army and the citizens of a grateful nation in wishing you good health and many years of happiness with James at your side. Nothing, not even the safe return of a beloved son, can compensate you or the thousands of other American families, who have suffered great loss in this tragic war. I might share with you some words which have sustained me through long, dark nights of peril, loss, and heartache. And I quote: "I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the alter of freedom." -Abraham Lincoln. Yours very sincerely and respectfully, George C. Marshall, General, Chief of Staff"
-General George C. Marshall played by Harve Presnell in Saving Private Ryan
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