Memorial Day Weekend

I have been super lazy about posting this week, so for that I apologize. Today's post relates to last weekend, actually. Last weekend was Memorial Day Weekend, which if you couldn't guess, is kind of a big deal. So I decided that, if I was going to do touristy things, like see monuments, I might as well do it on the weekend when the monuments are going to be going all out -- decorations, commemorations, etc. The following will be a chronicle of what I did and saw that weekend, mostly in picture form with some commentary.

Saturday:

On Saturday during the day, I did the monument tour. Having looked up "things to do in DC on Memorial Day weekend, I found that a lot of the war memorials would be decorated with special memorial ribbons and flowers, and that at the memorials for wars for which there are still living veterans (read: WWII, Korea, Vietnam), there would be little ceremonies. So I walked around. I managed to catch the tail-end of the WWII Memorial's service for those KIA and the few (now very old-- hard to think that the "greatest generation," and WWII are so on their way out, and in a few years very few will be left) veterans who were in attendance. I was fortunate to catch the national anthem singing and flag-unfurling. Here are some of the pictures from the various memorials:

Memorial gathering at the WWII Memorial on the National Mall

Example of the memorial flowers that were being laid at all the war memorials. I wonder who paid for/sponsored these individual flower bouquets, and how

WWI Memorial in the distance

Memorial wreath set in the WWI Memorial. I have always felt kind of bad for the WWI Memorial/veterans. Compared to the epicness and pomp and circumstance given to the other war memorials, it always feels kind of lonely and forgotten. I guess it makes sense, since the other war memorials commemorate wars in which people still living fought, and WWI for us Americans was not as much a colossal part of our history as it is in say, Europe, but it still always struck me as a little forlorn and sad. I guess that is what happens when there is no one left around to advocate so much for its remembrance

Entering this Korean War Memorial, I saw that someone had set this picture of (who I assume is/was) a Korean War veterans, from French-speaking Canada (I always forget that, more than say Vietnam, Korea was a U.N. effort. I guess that explains why the U.N. logo is all over the memorial, and the names of pretty much every major western power, plus a few from Asia). From the picture: "Gerald Ferlotte. 1928-2009. Royal 22nd Regiment of Canada. Tu nous manque Papa [We miss you Papa. French speaking skills for the win]."

Korean War Memorial with memorial flowers and wreaths laid about

Memorial wreath commissioned/paid/sent (?) by a group of South Koreans in thanks for our veterans' and KIA's efforts in ensuring that South Korea =/= North Korea today. The wreath reads: "We remember you forever. With [? Word is partially obscured] people of the Republic of Korea. Presented by Class of 1963, College of Commerce, Seoul National University." Unfortunately, I cannot read Korean so I do not know what the script in Korean says

View of the line at the Vietnam War Memorial. For all its length, it moved pretty quickly

Memorial wreaths sponsored and laid by various Vietnam veterans groups

So apparently every Memorial Day Weekend for like the last 20 or something years, something called "Rolling Thunder" happens. I had read about it online, that "Rolling Thunder" was going to sponsor a bunch of events in the District over the weekend, but I didn't pay much attention to what it is Rolling Thunder is or does. This last weekend, I found out who they are and what they do.

This

Apparently, "Rolling Thunder" is a group of Vietnam-era veterans (and their spouses/allies) who also happen to be massive, Harley-Davidson-type bikers. Specifically, it is a biker club for Vietnam veterans and friends, whose mission it is, is to raise awareness of and pressure politicians/the military on the issue of military troops who are still POWs and MIA, and whose cases have not been resolved/bodies not been recovered, etc. So every Memorial Day Weekend, they host a huge (and I mean huge) biker rally in DC, to bring awareness to the POW/MIA cause, and to remember those who served in and/or were killed in Vietnam (and by extension, other wars generally, although their focus seems to be Vietnam). You can learn more about their group and what they do on their website. So basically, for the weekend, DC was taken over by hundreds of aging, Vietnam veteran, leather-clad biker dudes, often with long hair. I did not know that the aging patriotic biker veteran was a demographic, but by the showing in DC, apparently it is. The whole of Constitution Avenue (the street that runs along the north edge of the National Mall) from about the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial was just strewn with hundreds of motorcycles. I have not seen so much black leather all in one place before, complete with very "'Merica"-type patches, a smattering of Jesus-y patches, and several "Jane Fonda is a traitorous bitch" patches (to be fair, if what I have read about some of the things she did in her more radical youth are true, then I can't really disagree with that assessment. Since Vietnam and all that craziness was well before my time, however, all I know is hearsay and what I hear on the internet, so I will reserve judgment as to the validity of these statements). It was definitely a glimpse into a different world.

Sunday:

Sunday I did not do much during the day; the big event was the annual Memorial Day concert on the Capitol lawn, which was an evening event put on by PBS. I like outdoor concerts, and the lineup (of both singers and hosts) had sufficient "name-recognition" appeal, that I thought, "hey why not?" The gates opened at 5:00PM, and the event started at 8:00PM. So, starting about about 3:30, I hung around the reflecting pool of the Capitol, waiting for the gates to open. I figured that if I did that, I could keep an eye on the line area, and get in line when it started to form, to ensure a good seat, since it was open grass seating. The highlight of waiting for the gate to open/to get in line, was seeing a Mama duck herd her 8 little ducklings all along the reflecting pool. It was kind of adorable, so see the poor put-upon Mama duck try to keep everyone together. They as a group made a lap around the reflecting pool, all the while getting much attention from the patrons milling around. I did not take a picture because I did not want to scare the baby ducklings, but trust me when I say that it was adorable.

The concert itself was very good, and surprisingly moving. It was basically about honoring fallen soldiers and veterans who have served. Interspersed with thematic music (one song of which was "Bring Him Home" from the musical Les Miserables, sung by the guy currently playing Jean Valjean on Broadway. It was a fitting piece for the part of the event honoring current military personnel, and it didn't hurt that it is one of my favorite songs from my favorite musical. And he nailed it.) were little vignettes that told soldiers' stories. One particularly poignant story involved an Afghanistan veteran's battle with PTSD after his tour, and ultimately his succumbing to the depression. The man's widow and children were in attendance, and I must admit I even got a little misty. Same for a vignette honoring Charles Durning, a well-known Hollywood actor who passed away this last year. Apparently prior to Hollywood, he served in WWII, and was quite decorated, having being with the first landing party on Omaha Beach at D-Day, as well as having liberated a concentration camp. Apparently in the past he had been a speaker at the concert, so they played video clips of past years where he described his experiences at D-Day and liberating the camp. He described in pretty stark detail, so it was definitely humbling and saddening to hear. I was also really happy to see that they specifically called some Korean War veterans on stage for recognition. For a long time, Korea was the "forgotten war," shoved between WWII and Vietnam, so veterans from Korea often didn't get as much recognition, attention or help as veterans from those other wars. It is nice to see them finally getting their due. As he does every year, Gary Sinise acted as co-host of the concert. Ever since playing Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump, I guess he has really gotten into the cause of wounded veterans, and does a lot of charitable work for them, including playing for them through his Lt. Dan Band. The concert is one of the things he is really involved with. Gary Sinise is a class act, both as an actor and a person.

Here are some pictures of the concert, which admittedly could be better. Unfortunately, while I had a good seat, we were still pretty far back as they had a separate section for veterans and family right in front of the stage (as it should be).

Walking to the event at Capitol Hill, I caught a glimpse of the "Rolling Thunder" ride that the group does around the Mall, which apparently happened on Sunday

View of the Capitol from the reflecting pool

It was a full house, all the way back to and up the steps of the Capitol

Concert stage just prior to start

Gary Sinise and his co-host, Joe Mantegna

American Idol winner Candice Glover singing the national anthem

Jessica Sanchez, from Glee also performed

Colin Powell also spoke. I couldn't get a good shot of him, so here he his on the jumbotron

Actor Ed Harris also gave a good speech at the event

Korean War veterans being honored at the concert (they are in blue coats)

Capitol and crowd, a-washed in light during the concert

In all, it was a really good concert, full of talented singers (and the National Symphony Orchestra on accompaniment). It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go, so I am glad I went. The weather that day was mid-70s, totally clear skies, and low humidity, so you pretty much could not have asked for a more perfect concert-going day. I think the concert, even though some may think it a little hokey because of the hardcore patriotism, was a great event, and the highlight of my weekend (and stay here thus far). It was also what my dad would call a "cross-cultural experience," given that the event was a haven for, shall we say, the type of people that one does not often find in the "blue" cities and states in which I have lived. But I guess it takes all kinds.

Monday:

Monday, which was actual Memorial Day, I went to the DC Memorial Day parade. I didn't take any pictures because I was kind of in a bad spot, plus people's heads were all in the way. So while I was able to see, it was not a situation conducive to good pictures, and I think I was a little burned out by trying to get good shots while jostling between peoples' heads at the concert. Basically, the parade was your pretty standard parade: a lot of high school marching bands from around the country, playing a smattering of contemporary and patriotic music. I always wonder how the bands get selected to play, because you could definitely see a range, both in terms of geography, but also in terms of the demographics of the bands and their respective ability to pay for flashy (or not) instruments and costumes. But generally speaking, for high school bands, they were pretty good. Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna were present as well, in a float as honorary grand marshals. In between the bands, they had people dressed up representing pretty much every war the Americans have fought (Revolutionary,1812, Civil War, Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, our current wars), plus specialized groups representing different veteran groups or time periods (veteran groups for Japanese WWII veterans, Philippine veterans, Native American veterans; plus things like the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution), some boy scout troops, etc. It was a little awkward when it got to the Civil War, since it was a civil war, so all veterans of that war were technically American, so they had people dressing up as and people in affinity groups for both the North and the South. But, history is history, and it takes two sides to tango. But it is always a little strange (given where I am from) to see people flying flags with the stars and bars.

Mostly, I enjoyed the parade. There were a few people around me who were, for lack of a better term, assholes; I won't get into it, but people need to a) mind their own business and b) be respectful of those around them (by that I mean, don't scream babbling, incoherent, annoying nonsense into the ears of those around you). Which several people were not. I would have enjoyed the event more but for those assholes, but I tried not to let it ruin my experience. Note to world: don't be assholes.

That pretty much sums up Memorial Day Weekend 2013, highlight of DC 2013 so far. I still haven't been cleared to work, so I have just been kind of hanging out. Hopefully that will end soon.

Grand Army of the Republic (Civil War/Union side) memorial near Archives metro, with memorial flowers

Killing Time

Another week, no word on the job situation. Le sigh. So, I have been trying to find ways to kill time while I wait. Most days I have hung out in my room, sleeping late and reading. A strange lethargy has overcome me; perhaps it is the heat, which until today was gawdawful. I did do a few things interesting things during the week, however.

Monday afternoon I went over to Old Town Alexandria, which, as the name suggests, is the old section of Alexandria, Virginia, that is just across the Potomac from DC. It dates to colonial times, and boasts that it was the childhood home to one Robert E. Lee, of Confederate general fame. So there's that.

The town is as you might expect. A lot of old buildings that, architecturally, date to probably the 1700s or the early 1800s, obviously since refurbished and repurposed. But other than its oldness, it is pretty similar to a lot of cutesy, upscale small town main drags: several chain upscale boutique-like stores, such as Francesca's Collection, or Chico's. Mixed in with, of course, a lot of independent, small business boutique stores. And coffee shops. And independent cafes. And the obligatory Starbucks (or five). In all it is a pleasant enough town; I enjoyed it because (big surprise) of the old buildings and historical nature of the place.

I wandered around for a while, taking pictures. It was real, real warm. And humid. God I hate humidity. I stopped into a coffee shop/gelato place to get some water, and gelato due to said aforementioned heat. I had a very interesting kind of gelato, which was a "chili chocolate." As you might expect, the flavor was a standard chocolate flavor, with some kind of chili powder in it. It was good, but also a strange sensation of each spoonful being simultaneously cold and hot. The cold hit first, almost immediately followed by the heat at the back of the throat. I liked it, although they might have gone a bit heavy on the chili powder. Not because of the heat level, but because I could kind of taste a raw chili flavor, like one finds in, well, a bowl of chili. So it was kind of weird to taste that along with chocolate. But it was good. The place is called Killer E.S.P., and is located at 1012 King Street, Alexandria. If you are in town, it is worth a stop.

Pictures or it didn't happen:

View of King Street, the main drag through Old Town Alexandria

Alexandria's city hall. They don't really "do" subtle around here

Old colonial mansion, apparently repurposed as the home of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. Classy*.

The thing about DC and the immediate outlying areas, is that it is somewhat culturally deceptive. Yeah, it's the South. But you don't really hear people with a Southern drawl, or if there is one, it isn't that pronounced. And DC itself is fairly cosmopolitan. The whole area kind of has a typical, almost vaguely European feel. One can tend to forget that one is technically south of the Mason-Dixon line. You want to think, "yeah OK, but Virginia isn't *really* the South. It's a blue state, c'mon."

Aaaaand then something like this happens:

"The Marshall House stood upon this site, and within the building on the early morning of May 24, 1961, James W. Jackson was killed by Federal soldiers while defending his property and personal rights, stated in the verdict of the coroners jury. He was the first Martyr to the cause of Southern Independence. The Justice of history does not permit his name to be forgotten. Not in the excitement of battle, but cooly, and for a great principle, he laid down his life, an example to all, in defence of his home and the sacred soil of his native state, VIRGINIA. Erected by the sons and daughters of Confederate soldiers." So... that happened

Old Town Alexandria can be reached by public transportation on the Yellow Line of the DC Metro, at the King Street-Old Town stop.

The other thing of some interest that I did this week was go to the National Zoo, located in the Cleveland Park neighborhood. Run by the Smithsonian Institute, it is another attraction in the area that is my favorite price of free. I didn't get there until around 3:00PM in the afternoon, and my god was it hot and humid. I was like dying. And about 15 minutes after I arrived, I got trapped in the gift shop for 45 minutes while they shuffled everyone off of the main road through the zoo, and didn't let us leave our designated spot until a (very) large truck was finished transporting a new Asian elephant to the elephant enclosure (truck and elephant were complete with their own motorcade and police escort. Must have been one damn important elephant). I alas did not get to see said elephant, save for one part of its trunk that was sticking out of the back window. Anyway, below are some of the better pictures that I took for the day there, because if you know one thing about me, it's that I love animals.

Entrance to National Zoo from Connecticut Avenue

Some gazelle and other Savannah-based antelopish creatures

Zebras

Cheetahs hanging out in the shade. It's a hard-knock life...

ZOMG Panda!

IT'S SO FLUFFY I'M GUNNA DIE!

OMNOMNOM

I do like parrots. They are very pretty birds, so colorful

Who can? Toucan! ...K I'll stop now

Hooty-hoot!

Not, in fact, an ostrich, but rather an emu

Flamingos: inspiring tragic American lawn "art" since 1950

Something about this sign just struck me as patently ridiculous/absurd

This was kind of cool: from the plaque next to it, "Pennsylvania Station Eagle. Adolph A. Weinman, 'Knoxville Marble' Limestone, 1910. A gift from the Pennsylvania Railroad to the Smithsonian Institution for the National Zoological Park, 1965. For years, this eagle watched over New York commuters from the facade of Pennsylvania Station. When the old station was demolished in 1963 [a tragedy, IMO] for the construction of Madison Square Garden, there was much demand to preserve the sculptures and architectural features. Today, of the 22 original eagles, only 14 are known to exist." And apparently the Smithsonian got one, and it is chilling in the Zoo. Ah, New York. I miss New York

Some kind of stunted horse. It looked like a donkey, but apparently was not

Orangutan: out of f***s to give

Why alligators and related species are the most terrifying, ever. Those beady little eyes above the water, always still and watching

Kind of hard to see, but that is the head of a lion. That liked to roar. A lot.

Not going to lie, I am one of those people who thinks it would be totally badass to have wolf for a pet

The National Zoo is located at 3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW. It is accessible via either the Woodley Park-Zoo or Cleveland Park Metro stops, both on the red line. The grounds of the zoo are open 6:00AM-8:00PM, the special exhibit houses (for example, the ape house) are open 10:00AM-6:00PM. Cafes, gift shops, and the visitor center are all open 9:00AM-5:00PM. During the winter months (November-March), the grounds close at 6:00PM and the exhibit houses close at 4:30PM. All other hours are the same.

*It is probably actually a good thing that they research mesothelioma. It's just that every time I see "mesothelioma," I can't help but think of those sketchy TV lawyer commercials about hiring a personal injury lawyer for mesothelioma claims.