Just Got Back From DC

[norepubsin08]

If anybody is going to DC, I would suggest that they tour the Holocaust Museum.

I also suggest they go to the National Archives. I was able to gaze upon the US Constitution and assure myself that after the past 8 years it is still there!

For me though, the most stunning thing was that I had never been to the Vietnam War Memorial. It is deeply personal, as a 7 year old, one week before Christmas of that year, my father died as a result of the Vietnam War. I was able to see his name up there for the first time in my life.

[babylonsister]

1. I haven't been to the Holocaust Museum yet, but have seen

the Vietnam Memorial. It is startling, isn't it, in the magnitude-and all those names. I'm glad you got to go and see your dad's name.

And I too saw the Constitution a few years ago, and was glad it was there, though it was shredding a bit. ;)

[DFW]

2. I have been to the Holocaust museum. Recommended!

I grew up in DC/Virginia way back when.

If you have the time, also visit the old Library of Congress building--an architectural gem.
You'll think you're in the best part of Vienna or Florence.

And then, take a tip from Helen Thomas, and eat dinner at Mama Ayesha's on Calvert Street.

It's an old Lebanese restaurant, and one of the unsung marvels of Washington. Helen turned me
on to it two years ago, and her restaurant recommendation was as good as her journalistic skill.

[norepubsin08]

5. I'll have to do that

I'm in DC about once a year (since I started this job 4 years ago) but usually only for a few hours to get my work done and then I'm out. This time, I said screw it...while I'm there, I'm taking vacation, so I took my family with me. We stayed for four days. I'd been forever wanting to go to the Wall.

[liberal N proud]

3. We go to DC frequently

The Vietnam Wall effect is awesome. It never fails to amaze me the silence one experiences when walking past the wall.

There is so much to do in DC and much of it is free, The monuments, Capitol (Congress and Senate), the Smithsonian museums.

We visited the building museum last summer, we had seen the beautiful building in TV shows, movies and on the news and finally found out where it was.

Arlington is another place that will have an effect on your heart. And I have to figure out how to get my father out there to see the WW-II memorial.

[norepubsin08]

4. Yes we went to Arlington also

We took a night tour of DC...the Korean War Memorial is incredible at night and so is the Lincoln Memorial. We also went to the Iwo Jima Memorial at night. Saw the changing of the guard during the day and the Kennedy graves. You are right about the silence at both the Vietnam War Memorial and in the Holocaust Museum. Hundreds of people and you could hear a whisper. It was so deeply moving for me after all these years to be able to see my father's name on the Wall!

[DFW]

7. I buried my father there in 2000. The place does have an effect on you.

[hootinholler]

6. DId you take a rubbing?

If anyone has a name on the wall, I suggest that you make a rubbing of it to take home. The Rangers allow this, and save all mementos that are left. I expect the Smithsonian will do an exhibit sometime.

-Hoot

[norepubsin08]

11. Yes I did..I am going to have it framed and hang it up!!!

[lonestarnot]

8. Wonderfully fulfilling experience. So glad you were able to go!

[BanzaiBonnie]

9. The National Archives was my favorite

We spent about five hours there when we visited DC last spring. It was only my second trip there, the first being to Turn My Back on Bush in 2005.

And while I understand that the Holocaust Museum is totally worthwhile, I just couldn't go in. I would be bawling my eyes out the whole time. I am overwhelmed by emotion just writing this.

The Vietnam War Memorial is hauntingly stunning and I'm glad you got to see it.

[iamjoy]

10. Both Very Powerful

My sister moved to DC about twelve years ago. My mother and I went up to visit her and Mom wanted to go to the Vietnam Memorial. My sister and I weren't too eager. I thought, "it's just a wall, what's the point?" But Mom lost classmates in Vietnam, so my sister and I went along. Well, we didn't realize until we got there that it was Father's Day. We were also somehow clueless about the whole experience. People made rubbings of names and there were Veterans in uniform helping people find names, some letting others stand on their backs to get rubbings of names that were higher up on the wall. Then there was the stuff people left - teddy bears, flowers, etc but also letters displayed for anyone to read. One was "Dear Daddy, I never knew you, but..." My sister and I just started bawling. I still get a little emotional when I think about it.

The US Holocaust Museum is powerful in a different way. With all my trips to DC, I never made it there until I went about a year and a half ago with my Dad. We're Jewish and my Dad's parents both lost family in the Holocaust. People have very emotional reactions there too, often sorrow. Me, I only got furious. And I didn't just get mad about what the Nazis did, but what has happened since then. I mean, we said Never Again and then let it happen in Rwanda and Darfur. That day I bought a "Save Darfur" bracelet and wear it to remind me. When I got home I wrote letters (my own words, not cut and paste form letters) and sent them to my Congressman and Senators. They did respond, but it's still kind of frustrating that we can't stop what's happening in Darfur, or Congo for that matter.

[Ocracoker16]

12. I live in DC so I sightsee some on weekends

The Vietnam Memorial is very moving especially on Memorial Day. I had a great uncle lost in the Korean War so I also like that memorial which is kind of adjacent to the Vietnam Memorial. I haven't been to the World War II memorial yet. Some people I know who have been didn't like the way it was designed.

I was recently at the FDR memorial which I have always liked. The depiction of the bread line is very moving at a time like this.

[norepubsin08]

13. The breadline depiction

was excellent...both my wife and I liked that also...we were on a night tour with others...would love to come back to it during the day and spend sometime there...it is a very under rated memorial.