Am I right side up?

My daughter just turned 10, and for her birthday, she wanted to go to Washington, DC.  She is currently learning about US History in school, so who could say no to a child with a thirst for knowledge? 

We planned the trip and made arrangement with our Congressman Michael Arcuri's office http://arcuri.house.gov/ to tour the White House and the Capitol.  A big thanks goes out to Congressman Arcuri's office for getting us into both places and the personal tour of the Capitol.  If you call ahead, you can avoid the 20-30 person general Capitol tour and get a more intimate tour from one of the Congressman's aides.  

The Capitol was far and away the better tour.  If you've never been, it's a must see.  The old Supreme Court, the architecture, the statues, the paintings, the history, it's all amazing.  You can almost feel the history.  It was very impressive.

After that, we made our way to the Mall.  To my daughter's dismay, the mall contained no Limited too or Aeropostale!  But she came around when she saw all the monuments she had read about. 

The Washington Monument 

The Lincoln Memorial

The WWII Memorial

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington, for me, was the best part of the trip.  I was blown away at the emotion I felt while there.  From the simplicity of JFK's eternal flame to the ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, I had a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat most of the time. I don't think there was a dry eye when the Guard played Taps at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  We were fortunate to be there when a group of at least 500 to 1000 Vets rode through on their motorcycles proudly displaying the Stars and Stripes and a POW flag. 

There was also a Motorcycle Parade on Sunday around the Mall.  We must have spent an hour watching the bikers/Vets ride with their fists up, high fiving or waving to the other vets and onlookers not riding that day.  It was also interesting to watch the Vets interact with each other.  As they walked past each other, the common greeting was "Welcome Home."  Watching the Vets at the Vietnam Memorial was as touching.  I don't believe I know anyone who's name is on the wall, but it was very obvious most of the people there did.  I almost felt guilty for watching.  When someone finally found that name they were looking for, I couldn't tell if it was relief or dispair or grief or frustration.  Most likely, it was probably all of them.

The reality of it all just smacked us in the face this weekend.  This happened, people died, so we could live.  Our daughter got a taste of the history.  She couldn't possibly fully comprehend what she was seeing.  How could she?  She's only 10.  Hopefully it won't take her until she's in her late 30's, like her parents, to really get it.