Memorial Day
I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement,
And leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost,
And the solemn pride that must be yours, to have laid so costly
A sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom
-Abraham Lincoln, November 1864
A Declaration Day on May 30 to lay flowers on the graves of the Civil War dead was established by Union Gen. John Logan in 1868. Memorial Day, also known as Poppy Day, was named a national holiday by Congress in 1971, although some southern states honor their confederate soldiers on a different date.
Visitors to Washington, D.C., over the Memorial Day Weekend will realize that the holiday means more than barbecues and beach openings.
Memorial Day Calendar lists the National Symphony Orchestra's season opener on the West Lawn of the Capitol and ceremonies at the many national cemeteries in the D.C.-Virginia area.
Essays on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Vietnam Memorial Wall and Korean War Veterans Memorial enlighten families about the sacrifices made by their loved ones.
A Memorial Image Gallery depicts Arlington National Cemetery, the JFK Eternal Flame and a glimpse of the future World War II Memorial.
While the D.C. area abounds with tradition, it also has an upbeat tempo that makes for a great vacation any time of the year.
How Things Fly? Drop by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, where a major renovation is underway to replace the skylights and window walls.
In Washington, the White House is a must-see attraction for visitors who may join free tours. A White House History has a virtual preview. Washington, DC, attractions has thumbnail text and pictures of the many landmarks in the capital, including the Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson and FDR memorials, the Kennedy Center, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the Sackler and Freer galleries and the Capitol.
Legislative Information on the Internet is an invaluable source for political junkies who will want to attend the House and Senate sessions. Bills past and pending, plus direct e-mail links to every single congressman and senator, are available. Feel free to give your legislator a piece of your mind. He or she will undoubtedly return a reassuring message.
The Capital Region is rich with day-trip destinations. Virginia's Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, which has introduced an Apollo's Chariot hypercoaster; and Colonial Williamsburg are but a few.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake,
From the skies,
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
-Taps
The bugle call Taps was first sounded in the aftermath of a Civil War battle near Richmond, Va. According to the Boy Scouts, and several other official sources, it was composed by Brigade Commander Daniel Butterfield to mourn the large Union loses. The confederates passed down a slightly different version of the origin of Taps. In any case, Taps became the army's signature sound for day's end. The History of Taps features an audio.
Youngsters visiting Washington D.C. with their parents may tap into the Yahoo1x GeoCities' kid-friendly pages for a history of Memorial Day. Men and women serving in the armed forces love to receive mail, and an easy-to-write ELetter To A Soldier will surely be appreciated by a soldier.
Washington Hotels lists a variety of accommodations with starting rates. A Hotel Discounts and City Guide has essential travel information, including pictures and maps. ExpressRates has discount hotel deals and car rentals.
By Luanne Axt
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