Navy and Marine Memorial

This week we took a ride along the GW Parkway for a change of scenery for our morning walk. Rather than stroll in the park by our house or around the neighborhood, Gravelly Point was our destination. We drove by it many times when we lived in DC for thirteen years. The park is right next to Reagan Airport and has a bike/walking path that goes all the way to Mount Vernon in one direction and to Roosevelt Island in the other direction. And there is a spot to watch the planes land and take off over the parking lot. After walking along the path for almost two miles we came upon the Navy Marine Memorial. I’ve seen it a million times when we turned on to the parkway from I-395 and was never sure what it was. Before getting there we crossed over a bridge where you can see the Johnson Memorial, boat marina, and Pentagon located across the street. There were willow trees and the Washington monument in the background along the Potomac River. The memorial’s waves and seagulls represent our love for the water, and memorializes all who use or have been lost at sea - through commerce, war, or any purpose one uses the water. We were between seasons because the flowers were scant and we were the only people near it, aside from the fewcbikers who passed through. There are a lot of interesting sights along the parkway. It was about time we saw this one.