Veterans Day Tribute

It is the day to remember anyone who served in the armed forces. I remember as a child going to parades and hearing military marching band music. My dad was in the Coast Guard and served in WWII and Korea aboard a destroyer escort. He retired after twenty one years and he kept meticulous albums of his adventures. He knew he would move the family from New England to Florida when the time was right. My grandfather was so proud of my mom because she was the only child out of five who served in the Navy during WWII. She traveled to San Francisco and loved it. A friend was supposed to join her but backed out at the last minute. She never looked back. After a couple of years in the Navy she worked in a variety of government positions and retired from the VA. Our son joined the army while in college, got his medical degree from UWM, a residency at Walter Reed and a post residency at Harvard. He served for twenty one years in the army and was deployed three times to Iraq and Afghanistan. You could say he was one of the reasons we moved to DC from the Midwest. We lived down the street from them on Capitol Hill and were available to our daughter in law and grandson while he was away. I was so lucky to get a job at the Library of Congress which was just two blocks away and we had the opportunity to grow with our family. So today we celebrate the service of our family members. Thank you! 

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. 

American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial

We've been watching the construction over the last couple years. Right next to the house office buildings and two blocks down the street from us is a new memorial. It was dedicated while we were away on our vacation earlier this month. The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial was quite stunning in the bright fall afternoon sky. It was already attracting a lot of foot traffic. The flowing water feature is highlighted with a five point star that represents the branches of the armed services. The Army, Navy, and Coast Guard are most dear to me as our family members served in WWII and for the last twenty years with three deployments overseas. The glass walls are etched with stories from every day people and their personal lives and struggles. George Washington and Bob Dole are prominent, and so appropriate. So now when we walk to the US Botanical Garden, this spot offers another place to stop, sit, and reflect on a lot of things.  It will be interesting to see it change with the seasons, but the feeling one senses while meandering about it will remain the same.  

 

Celebrate and Remember Veterans Day