This past week I traveled with my neighbor to Washington D.C. It has been an incredibly hectic past few months and as Christmas approaches, it has only increased in its insanity. A couple of our friends blessed Melissa and I with free airline tickets and so Stu and I decided to make a break for it and head East. I’m so glad we did! What an amazing time we had.
Our days were spent with walking and more walking, but everywhere we looked, we saw something amazing. From our time at the capitol, sitting in on sessions of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, to each one of the Smithsonian museums, we had an incredible time of fellowship and living history.
Two highlights that stand out to me were our time at the Holocaust Museum and our trip to Arlington National Cemetery. On the day that we traveled to the Holocaust Museum, we only intended to breeze through in 1 or 2 hours, but we managed to stay nearly 7. Words cannot even begin to describe what we saw and learned. Several times throughout that day, I was forced into a chair where I found myself sobbing uncontrollably at the information and images I was taking in. In my opinion, everyone should see this place and come face to face of the realities of the holocaust.
In Arlington, my eyes could hardly believe the sight of so many who sacrificed so much. Here, soldiers from the last 100 years of war lie silently, side by side with their brothers in arms and their beloved wives. During our time in Arlington, we saw the tomb of the unknown soldier as well as JFK’s grave. However, the most amazing site was the lone soldiers funeral we witnessed. Lying under a tree, the ground littered with leaves, a soldier silently played taps as a family said goodbye to their son/husband/friend. The dead leaves on the ground eerily echoed the dead soldiers across the field. It was a truly humbling experience.
During our 4 days in DC, we visited every monument, every museum, and every restaurant we could find. It was a fun and relaxing time, filled with joy and introspection. I find myself returning from this trip rested and learned. I hope one day to return to DC with my wife and allow her the same joy that I experienced as I toured our nations capitol.
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