Our trip to Washington D.C.  was great.  Every time I go there, I get a renewed sense of patriotism.  This time I really needed a strong dose of that.  You just can't help but feel it when you look at all the things our founding fathers did for this country.  Inspired men and (women).

The National Archives

The Declaration of Independence

 

Probably my favorite building in the entire city.  Seeing the Magna Carte, the original Bill of Rights, and what's left of the Declaration of Independence.  Amazing. There is a sense of reverence in that building, and rightly so.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

They do this every hour, and the respect and precision are amazing.  When we first got to Arlington Cemetery, there was a military funeral going on.  We saw them hand the folded flag to a man (a father?) and then it ended.  Later at the changing of the guards ceremony, I looked over and there was the man standing, watching the ceremony, clutching the flag.  

We then headed to the Vietnam Memorial.  I didn't take any pictures there that day.  It was the day before Veteran's Day and there were so many Veteran's there, in uniform, openly weeping.  I just felt I needed to respect their privacy.  It was a touching time.  

One of the main reasons we went to DC when we did was because of a case that was being heard at the Supreme Court involving the City of Pleasant Grove (where my husband works).  If you haven't heard of the court case involving the 10 Commandments, go here.  

Here is PG's Mayor waiting to be interviewed by the media.  

There was a huge group on the steps for this case.  It was really exciting.  

The attorneys for PG being interviewed

The black suit is alive and well in Washington

The Princess had fun at the different Smithsonian museums.  

Here she is with a statue from Easter Island

I picked out a little something for myself while I was there.  

This was next to the Hope Diamond (my pic of that didn't turn out) 

A really cool sculpture from the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden

The view from the Jefferson Memorial

My sister and I rented paddle boats one year and went all around the tidal basin.  I've never been during Cherry Blossom season though.

Old Ebbitt Grill

We eat here every time we come to DC.  It is the oldest pub in Washington.  

Then we visited the United States Marine Corps museum.  Since two of our sons are Marines, it was extra inspiring.  The building is designed to be shaped like the statue of Iwo Jima.  

I think we walked the entire district of Columbia at least twice.  I know we walked this:

And it was worth it.