Mr. David Goes to Washington

David wanted to share his photos of his trip to Washington, D.C. here. I have selected quite a few (from the NEARLY 300 that he took) to give you a sense of what this majestic city is like through the eyes of a 16-year old young man. (David is the second from the left, in the front row.)
Here are some of the things that impressed him.

The Washington Monument, and the views of the city from the top of it,

the Lincoln Memorial,

and David in front of it, by the reflecting pool on the Mall

George Washington's House, Mt. Vernon.

David had a lot to say about the house, the furnishings, the farms, the beautiful setting. No interior photography is allowed, so we checked the website together when he got home, so that he could give me the tour of the interior. It is amazing, and beautiful.

Arlington National Cemetary, where "the ultimate sacrifice" of many is honored; their resting places are eye-opening to a teenager.

the graves of John Fitzgerald Kennedy & Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, with the eternal flame (I am an admirer of theirs, so he took this photo for me);

the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (and the changing of its guard),

the Iwo Jima Memorial,

& a statue of a woman offering the olive branch of peace. That's a powerful image for a military cemetary.

The National Cathedral

and its beautiful vaults and stained glass windows.

They heard a choir sing while they were visiting the cathedral.

The White House, viewed through the fence...

...and from the top of the Washington Monument.

David's group went to see Ford's Theater (the place where President Lincoln was shot). It has recently been renovated.

Afterward, they went to dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. When they came out of the restaurant, there were sharpshooters on the rooftops (you can see them if you enlarge the photo here), and the street was blocked. They were told in which direction to leave the area...because the President was on his way to a celebration at the theatre. As they left, this is what they saw:

the Presidential motorcade (David saw the President get out of his limousine)! Pretty exciting, for a group of teenagers from a small town, on their way back from dinner.

From among the 2,500+ students who converged upon Washington D.C. for the North American Invitational Model United Nations, only 55 were allowed to tour the Pentagon. David's group was among them, and it was very impressive to him. They also toured many museums (several of the Smithsonian museums, the Holocaust Museum, International Spy Museum, etc.), the Supreme Court, National Archives, the Library of Congress, the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, the Capitol, the Jefferson Memorial, and various war memorials.

This trip provided a priceless opportunity to learn with a small group of committed students and a gifted teacher, as well as to engage with a large group from around the world. We're thankful that David had this experience, to expand his understanding of history and of the democratic process. Thank you, Grandma & Kappa!