DC ~ Arlington and Lincoln

While Papa Derwin and Grandma Phyllis were here we, of course, spent a day in DC.  Well actually, they stayed one night down there so they could spend 2 days in the city!  One with us and one solo.  Since we drove in we decided to start with spending the morning at Arlington National Cemetery. 

I've been there 3 times now and each is as reverent and emotional as the first.  When visiting the Nation's Capital for the first time, a visit to Arlington is a must.  It puts, I feel, everything into perspective.  To take in the sights, the beautiful architecture, museums, etc..... one must not forget that none of it would be possible without the service and brave and selfless sacrifice of our Countrymen and women.  {Honestly, I think passing up the opportunity during your first (and perhaps only) visit to DC to honor these men and women would be a true disrespect .... just my 2cents}  

*Tomb Of The Unknowns*

*Changing of the Guard*

Memorial Amphitheater

View from Arlington House

*A little pause for a brief history lesson.  So the Arlington House, or General Lee's house as I always called it sits on the hill overlooking President Kennedy's Memorial and the rest of DC.  This was the first time we went inside and I'm so glad we did!  I had no idea the history of the place!  

"The 19th-century mansion seems out of place amid the more than 250,000 military grave sites that stretch out around it.  Yet, when construction began in 1802, the estate was not intended to be a national cemetery.  The mansion, which was intended as a living memorial to George Washington, was owned and constructed by the first president's adopted grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, son of John Parke Custis who himself was a child of Martha Washington by her first marriage and a ward of George Washington.  Arlington won out as a name over Mount Washington, which is what George Washington Parke Custis first intended calling the 1,100-acre tract of land that he had inherited at the death of his father when he was 3.  “Arlington” was the name of the Custis family ancestral estate in the Virginia tidewater area.  The north wing was the first structure completed in 1802. It was in this building that Custis made his home, with a significant portion of it used to store George Washington memorabilia that Custis was acquiring with regularity.  Among the items purchased and stored in the north wing were portraits, Washington's personal papers and clothes, and the command tent which the president had used at Yorktown.  On June 30, 1831, Custis' only child, Mary Anna Randolph Custis, married her childhood friend and distant cousin, Robert E. Lee."

The rich history continues from there, if you're interested you can read on HERE.*

This china actually belonged to Martha Washington!  How awesome is that?!

The Lee's were married in a small private ceremony under the middle arch.

Next stop was Kennedy's Memorial.

The Kennedys and Arlington House in the background.

A hop, skip, and jump away from the cemetery is the Air Force Memorial.  This was a must see on my dad and Phyllis' list.  Her uncle was a Vice Chairman on the Board of Trustees {aka second in command!} and spent over a decade in developing the Memorial!  Pretty cool!

After a quick picnic lunch at the Air Force Memorial we finally headed into DC.  We first took a little driving tour around the area to see the sights and give my dad and Phyllis a lay of the land.  On our loop around we actually found a parking spot fairly close to the Lincoln Memorial!  

*note the spot where MLK stood*

 *photo courtesy of Kayla :)*

Vietnam Memorial

By this time it was getting late in the day so we dropped off Papa and Grandma at their hotel so they could rest up for their day 2..... and the kiddos promptly passed out!

 Another memorable day for the books!  For me, it's always so exciting to be a part of someone's first time experiencing the Capital.  Growing up on the West Coast, it's not uncommon to go your entire life without seeing DC.....it only lives in history books.  Kind of like people who are raised in the Mid West and never see the ocean.  It's a bummer, but it happens.  So my friends and family out West ...... please remember you have a free room {breakfast included... ok and dinner!} AND a tour guide ready and waiting for you!