Eisenhower Memorial

We’ve walked and driven by the construction site of the Eisenhower Memorial for about two years? It’s located across from the Air and Space Museum on Independence Avenue, not far from our old condo on Capitol Hill. The fence surrounding it was finally removed and the memorial was dedicated about two weeks ago and finally opened after being commissioned by President Clinton all those years ago. Last Sunday we drove by it and last Tuesday we decided to take our morning walk to it. What’s nice about it is that it is more like a park where one can easily pass through it without a lot of inconvenience. It even has a little outdoor shop and restroom - something quite unusual near the National Mall. The backdrop is supposed to represent the Normandy Coast, but it’s difficult to make out against the building behind it. It’s quite simple and pleasant all around. We have visited Eisenhower’s home in Gettysburg, and his boyhood home and library in Abilene Kansas on our road trip west to California. Eisenhower is probably the first President I recognized as a youngster. We will need to come visit again in the evening when the lights are aglow. It is supposed to be stunning - particularly the tapestry behind and the uplights from below. There was a lot of fuss about this memorial of which I don’t know the specific details. Whatever they were, you would never know it. 

A Beautiful Drive in to DC

It’s been a long time since we have seen the city as vibrant as we remember it. So much so that we were even feeling a bit nostalgic. After living on Capitol Hill for thirteen years, we moved to northern Virginia. So we are still close enough to drive in to town whenever we feel like it. Unfortunately it hasn’t been the same since March for obvious reasons - no programs at the Library of Congress to go to followed by dinner at Hawk and Dove or any other indoor activities. Today after our morning walk in the neighborhood we drove in to check out the newly dedicated Eisenhower memorial on independence avenue across from the air and space museum, but also to witness the crowds by the Supreme Court after hearing the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Of course we passed by our old home and the familiar neighborhood. There’s a new playground by Eastern market that was filled with kids. Pretty much everyone was wearing masks as it is a requirement in town. The blue skies were so bright and sunny because of the unexpected lower temps. Every time we go in we have a discussion about living in the city. It was a great experience when I was working at the Library of Congress for ten years. But it was time to move on to a more comfortable environment - especially to a building that was much younger than the 1890’s and all its associated problems. We need to go back again in the very near future for a morning walk to the Eisenhower memorial. That is one thing I miss - just walking to all these places. But at least we can still drive in, park in our old stomping grounds, and pretend like we still live there.