Our visit to Washington DC would not have been complete without visiting the famous memorials located around this historic city. We decided to start from the Jefferson Memorial, thanks to the help of the tourist trolley that regularly makes a loop around the tourist hotspots. The Jefferson Memorial was a great stop as it honors one of our country’s founding fathers and one of the most influential people of the time.
The next stop was the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial which was a bit of a hike from the Jefferson memorial but faster than waiting for another trolley. This was my first time heading to the FDR memorial, and to be frank, I did not realize there was a memorial dedicated to our 32nd President. Funny enough, I once said in my high school history class that he was my favorite president which helped me pass the class because the teacher also liked FDR.
Our tour’s next stop was the (relatively) new Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. The design of the memorial is unique in that Mr. King Jr.’s likeness is carved out of a stone that was ripped out of the mountain behind him as he appears to be staring across the lake toward the Jefferson memorial. This design choice was made based on one of of his quotes, [insert quote here].
Another memorial that I did not know existed was the World War I Memorial. Although America’s role was small in WWI, American troops provided the necessary boost the Allies needed to overcome enemy forces which brought peace but also paved the way to mankind’s greatest conflict. The WWI memorial’s size reflects America’s involvement in the war as it is much smaller than most memorials around the national mall.
By contrast the World War II memorial is quite large but definitely saw more Americans sacrifice their lives than ever before. In terms of historical events, WWII resonates with me more than any other event because I had a lot of exposure to it as a child (thanks History Channel!). The WW2 memorial is large and beautiful, featuring a pillar for each state with two giant structures on either side of an oval that represent the two main theaters of combat, the Pacific and the Atlantic.
Adjacent to the WW2 memorial is the famous reflecting pool that leads up to the grand, Lincoln Memorial. The Lincoln Memorial honors our country’s 16th president and was the most popular tourist spot I had noticed so far.
Our last stop for the day was at the sacred Arlington National Cemetery, known as the final resting place for thousands of soldiers, the Kennedys, and home to the tomb of the unknown soldier. The changing of the guard ceremony that occurs at the tomb is one of solemnity, and nearly brought tears to my eyes.
Standing at the highest point of the cemetery is the Arlington house which belonged to Robert E. Lee until the union was able to take control of the land during the Civil war. It’s at this point that you’re able to admire the city down below. Seeing all these monuments of the greatest leaders in our history was enlightening and inspiring. Washington DC really feels special because it is home to great leaders both past and present and recognizes those who went above the call of duty and made the ultimate sacrifice.