One of Myron and Karen's wishes was to stop at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. This was a truly impressive Catholic Church. It is part museum and active church. The church's foundation stone was laid in 1920 and was finally dedicated in 1959. It took many years to complete due to wars and other maladies. The pictures do not do it justice as to the majestic stature of this church

 As you can see behind Myron who is at the bottom of the steps the massive doors behind him. They were not easy to open for the weight of them.

 The engravings all around the entrance and throughout the church were something to behold.

 This was the best I could do with the actual church proper as we thought there was something going on as there were a lot of people sitting in there. The organ also started playing and I didn't want to look like a stupid tourist and start snapping pics during something solemn. We instead worked our way across the back and then downstairs to the crypt level.

 I did manage to zoom in on a couple of the domes that had some frescos painted on them. Also there was a lot of gold inlay or tiles on these domes. Like I said the pictures don't do it justice.

 This is one of 69 small chapels within the church. The Virgin Mary and Jesus was done as a fresco and surrounded by gold tiles.

 Next to this chapel was the dedication to the Knights of Columbus. As most all of you know, Myron was a member of the Knights and he also was a General Agent with his own agency that sold insurance with the Knights.

 This is just one of the stain glass windows. This one is dedicated to Christopher Columbus as it was in the area of the Knights of Columbus. I couldn't get to the rest of the glass as I said before they also were located in the main church.

 I believe that this chapel was dedicated to either Our Lady of Fatima or Mary. I can't remember.

This is the crypt level, which by the way most of these beautiful chapels are located in. The Crypt level lays a vision of dead people buried in the walls. This is not what it is. The Crypt level just means lower level. It is more romantic then the basement. Anyway, all the names in the crypt are the people, families, and organizations who helped pay for the construction of the shrine. The names go on for what seems like forever,.

 Myron was extremely grateful to be able to visit this memorial and shrine. He is not often taken to soft descriptions but he was here. Glad we were able to share this with both of them,.

 Had to get my fat body in here somewhere. I needed to go here too as I need all the help I can get.

 We took a day to drive over to Arlington Cemetery for the purposes of visiting the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. When we first walked in we were going to walk the grounds. Thank goodness we didn't, otherwise we probably would have been the next residents here. It was really hilly. The picture below does not do it justice as to how hilly it really was, but you can take my word for it. If you are young and in shape you could handle it but otherwise there is a hop on hop off tour tram or trolley or whatever it is called.

The tram makes three stops. One is at the Kennedy tomb and eternal flame, next is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Robert E Lee mansion.

 This is the JFK burial site the flame is in the back and the tomb stone for the President is on the left and Jackie is on the right. It was roped off so we couldn't get the printing on it. I did get part of JFKs inaugural speech which he asks not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country.

 Here is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is a very quiet place out of respect for the soldier and monuments purpose.

 This is the soldier guarding the monument. It is being guarded by soldiers out of the 3rd Regiment of the U.S. Army. They have been guarding the tomb ever since its inception. The soldier below marches back and forth every few minutes. He takes 21 steps in each cycle back and forth. The step count is the same as the count of rifles shots fired at a funeral for a veteran who has deceased. This is the final salute to the departed.

 Here is a view of the Arlington House that was a plantation with a thousand acres and was built by the step Grandson, George Washington Parke Custis,  as a monument to his Grandfather,  George Washington. He adored his step-grandfather and decorated the house with his heirlooms. He  also did paintings of George Washington.  Custis daughter married Robert E. Lee, who later lived in the house for 30 years and raised 7 children there.  The Lees left the house at the start of the Civil War and the plantation was taken over by the Union soldiers.  After the war, soldiers were buried on the property and then became Arlington National Cemetery.  The house overlooks Washington DC.  John F. Kennedy's grave is just below the hill in the front and the tomb of the unknowns is also close by.

Robert E. Lee was a General in the Union Army before the civil war. He chose to resign his commission with the Union Army and became a General in the Confederate Army. He chose this direction as he didn't want to fight against his own family.

From the front of Arlington house looking at Washington DC.  Pierre Charles L'Enfant is buried here.  Under the direction of George Washington, He designed the plan for the Federal City.

Family tree of Martha and George Washington.  The photo on the left where you only see "Edward Lee" is Robert E. Lee. 

The various rooms of the Arlington House are shown below.  Most are original paintings and furniture

The Grandson who built the house also did some painting.  He idolized his step-Grandfather, George Washington and painted several pictures of him, including this large one.

Salina Gray was Mrs. Lee's personal maid and later the head housekeeper. Her parents had been Mt. Vernon slaves, so she grew up steeped in the lore of George Washington. In May of 1861 on the eve of the Civil War, Mrs. Lee abandoned her home. She left the household keys with Mrs. Gray entrusting her with the "Washington Treasury", cherished heirlooms that once belonged to George and Martha Washington.  By assuming stewardship of these revered artifacts, Mrs. Gray became, in a broad sense, the guardian of the heritage of the young nation.

 

 Here we are the first day on the Metro subway heading for downtown DC for our tour. Not having any experience with subways, we were surprised at the speed this thing travels at. It took only fifteen minutes to get downtown. That thing really hauls the mail.

 This is the view we were greeted with coming out of the subway. It let us off in front of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The building surprised us because not only is it very old and powerful looking. I think the people who designed and built it, built it for people 4 foot 4 and skinny as heck. You could not fit two people through the doors at the same time if you had to. We also ate lunch in the cafeteria of this building. It was cafeteria style serving like a buffet at the cost of $6.35 a pound for what you put on your plate. As you also can also see the Washington Monument peered over the building. We visited that after lunch.

 We spent the majority of the morning in the Holocaust Museum. There are no pictures as none were allowed inside. Sorry. It was an eye opener for those who never have seen this. It was quite graphic, unlike the stuff you see on TV in documentaries. I think they would be farther ahead if they would allow this kind of Graphic on TV and then people can see it is not a lie.

 We are across the street from the Washington Monument. We had to take this picture there because if we took it up close we would not get the entire height in the picture. There was an absolute mob on the site itself and strangely enough there were more people there who did not speak English. The people I heard the most were from Europe.

 I tried real hard to get an interesting pic of the Monument with the flag in it but didn't do a very good job. This is why I had to keep my day job. I would have starved as a photographer.

 Here is a picture of the White House from the Monument. We still haven't visited this place. Will probably do so sometime next week. We are also planning a night visit to the Monument area.

 This is a good picture facing the Lincoln Memorial from the WWII Memorial. The WWII memorial was very impressive. I can't understand why this administration closed this memorial during the government shut down as it is completely exposed between the reflection pool and the Washington Monument. The only reason I can see why they closed it was to irritate as many people as they could for political reasons to make Americans they disagreed with, namely republicans, look bad and also make them scapegoats.

 I occasionally get in the picture now and then. I couldn't resist the next one. it is a shame I didn't get it completely done right. Oh Well!!!!!!!!!!

 This picture is out of order because I think this was taken from the Washington Monument. I am not sure though. The Capitol building is the one we will visit next week.

 Here is Marion standing in front of the WWII memorial dedicated to North Dakota. There were pillars for every state and territories that were governed at the time by the U.S. like Samoa.

 Here is our little visitor from the trees lining the reflection pool. I take it she was a she as she lacks male parts. She and the little bird to the right were competing for attention and handouts. Both would come right up to you. Where is Trixie when you need her. She would have loved to get this close.

 This was taken just beyond the WWII monument along the reflection pool. Every time I see this pool I think of Forest Gump. As you can see on the steps of the monument there is an absolute mob of people. We were hoping they would thin out by the time we got there, but it was worse by the time we arrived.

 There were so many people on the steps it was like playing bumper cars getting to the top. What you can't quite see is all the people just out of sight on the landing.

 I finally did get inside to get a picture of the Lincoln statue but I had to wiggle my way through tons of people. But I didn't give up.

There was a terrific mural on the wall near the ceiling but I couldn't get all of it. I am sure this one drives the atheist's nuts.

 This is the view from the top of the steps of the Lincoln Memorial toward the Washington Monument via the reflection pool. I think this was the view envisioned when the pool was  thought of.

 This is the entrance to the Vietnam Monument. I was extremely disappointed with this monument. It is so understated and makes me feel unappreciated.

 It looks like a ditch with a black marble wall with names etched in it. How sad. The two monuments in this area that are like this, as being understated, are the Vietnam and Korean war memorials. Sounds too coincidental  as these are the two wars that we did not win. It seems as though Americans seem to only pay lip service to their appreciation for the sacrifices of these soldier, sailors, and airmen in these conflicts. I wonder if those who died and served in the last few conflicts will receive any recognition. Sad

 As you can tell I was not very happy about this monument. I guess I should be appreciative anyway. I can remember being  chased by hippy protesters in Rantoul Ill. who tried to start a fight with me when I was a young airman then getting spit on at O'Hare Airport and called foul names as I traversed the airport in uniform. So I guess you can see why the monument was not a satisfactory experience for me.