Day Three in DC

Sunday was bright and clear. We got up and wandered through the Farmer's Market on Dupont Circle as we headed to the Metro station. I have to say that as a person with food allergies who tries to eat as organically as possible now, I would have loved to have brought home a ton of food from the Market. Eating in DC for me was easy with vegan options on every menu and then it took only a couple of questions to get an allergy menu or an answer from the kitchen. 

Our theme for Sunday was Remembrance and we spent time in Arlington National Cemetery, at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial and then the National Holocaust Museum. 

Arlington National Cemetery 

There was a long line of people to get into Arlington. By the time we finally got on a tour bus it took about 5 minutes for Davis to fall asleep.

Arlington House, formerly the Custis-Lee Mansion

John and Jackie Kennedy flanked by two of their four children

Robert Kennedy

Ted Kennedy

Joe Kennedy Jr. 

We were privileged to get to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in time for the Changing of the Guard. Always a very moving experience. 

The Pentagon 9/11 Memorial 

This was a new one for all of us and probably the boys' favorite. There was a lot of meaning in the design and it made things very relatable to our children. There is a bench for every victim of the Pentagon attack, whether they were in the building itself or on the plane. Benches that face out from the building represent people who were in the building that day. Benches that face towards the building represent people who were on the plane. The benches are arranged in lines by age, from the youngest victim (age 3) to the oldest victim (age 71). Those who are related to one another also have the names of their accompanying family members inscribed below their name. 

The National Holocaust Museum 

Years ago when I was a student at USF, I helped write the curriculum for student groups visiting the Holocaust Museum in Saint Petersburg and I got to attend the opening night gala for that museum. I've always wanted to visit the National Holocaust Museum in DC, but haven't had enough time on my last two trips. This was special, but it made me cry through most of it. I read all of Elie Wiesel's books in college and heard him speak once about his experiences as a survivor. His quotes are all throughout the museum. 

Everyone received a card of a person who lived through the Holocaust and as you traveled the floors of the museum, you could read about what happened to your person through the different years of the war. 

The Danish people smuggled most of their Jews out to safety in boats like this one. 

We finished our night back on Dupont Circle by eating Greek food. Zorba's was delightful in atmosphere and the food was wonderful!