Ahhh, Foggy Washington, D.C.!! We flew in on Tuesday afternoon. It was cool and cloudy and gorgeous. My dad picked us up from the airport and we went straight to Arlington National Cemetary.
We walked through the cemetary to the Kennedy Graves and the Eternal Flame.
It's unbelievable how many soldiers are buried here. It's such a beautiful place to be laid to rest. What an honor to those who have given their all for our freedom.
We also walked to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. This is quite an experience if you've never been. This tomb is guarded 24 hours a day. It's incredible to watch the precise movements of the guard. The exactness of his counts.
There is a meticulous ritual the guard follows when watching over the graves: The soldier walks 21 steps across the Tomb. This alludes to the 21 gun salute which is the highest honor given to any military or foreign dignitary in America.
His weapon is always on the shoulder opposite the Tomb (i.e., on the side of the gallery watching the ritual). On the 21st step, the soldier turns and faces the Tomb for 21 seconds. The soldier then turns to face the other way across the Tomb and changes his weapon to the outside shoulder. After 21 seconds, the first step is repeated.
This is repeated until the soldier is relieved of duty at the Changing of the Guard.
After Arlington we went to dinner at a great Mexican restaurant in town. I'm not sure which neighborhood it was in but it's the Cacuts Cantina. Yummy :) Then we drove up to the Washington DC LDS Temple. Words really can't describe the sight of this temple. It was breathtaking!
We figure its about 6 or 7 stories tall, quite a bit taller than the Salt Lake Temple. In the misty evening, the glow from the lights lit up the sky around it for miles. As you drive along the freeway you can't see any buildings until you round the corner and the temple is there sticking out of the forest. It's amazing.
We walked around the entire building. I couldn't even get it all in one picture from that close! My dad says during the early evening you can see the "windows" lit up through thin sheets of marble.
Too bad we didn't have time for a session but it was still amazing to be on the grounds.
This is repeated until the soldier is relieved of duty at the Changing of the Guard.
After Arlington we went to dinner at a great Mexican restaurant in town. I'm not sure which neighborhood it was in but it's the Cacuts Cantina. Yummy :) Then we drove up to the Washington DC LDS Temple. Words really can't describe the sight of this temple. It was breathtaking!
We figure its about 6 or 7 stories tall, quite a bit taller than the Salt Lake Temple. In the misty evening, the glow from the lights lit up the sky around it for miles. As you drive along the freeway you can't see any buildings until you round the corner and the temple is there sticking out of the forest. It's amazing.
We walked around the entire building. I couldn't even get it all in one picture from that close! My dad says during the early evening you can see the "windows" lit up through thin sheets of marble.
Too bad we didn't have time for a session but it was still amazing to be on the grounds.
2 comments:
I'm so envious that you're in DC!! It's so beautiful there. Love your pictures. And thanks for sharing about the guards on the grave -- I had no idea!
How exciting! I wish we could've gone with you guys. How was New York?
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