Fairfax, VA to Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, October 19

Wednesday morning dawned but I was asleep and missed it. When I did get up I had possibly the best breakfast ever in a hotel. In addition to 6 kinds of cereals, they had eggs, potatoes, grits (yum), donuts & muffins, 3 kinds of juices, bagels, toast, waffles, etc. I may not have sampled everything.

I tried to make a reservation for a tour in Washington D. C. but they had no more space. Instead I decided to go Arlington National Cemetery since it's been 25-30 years since I was last there. I took a tour on a tram that allowed me to get off & back on anytime I chose.

Actually when I rode this there were really people on it.

I visited John Kennedy's grave which took me back to speech class in 8th grade. I still remember someone calling our teacher out of class. When she returned a few minutes later, she announced that the president had been shot. That is seared into my brain. The eternal flame (which isn't always eternal) is just behind the graves.

The President's marker is on the right side of the photo.

I arrived early to the changing of the guard and so I had a chance to visit the memorial to the USS Maine from the Spanish American War. This is the mast of the warship that was sunk in Cuba.

This is one of the few times that I've been around crowds of people, American & others, when it was silent. No smoking or gum chewing is allowed...kind of like at school. One little boy did move under the fence just a small amount. The guard, who was at the other end of his post noticed it & with a very commanding voice, told him immediately to move back. The process of changing the guard, done once per hour in fall & winter, is amazing in it's precision. It was as impressive as I'd remembered. I've yet to figure out how to post  video to this blog. At least tonight the Wifi is fast enough to accomplish something.

The precision of the headstones is amazing from all angles.

Tonight I'm in Elkridge, MD with plans to return to Washington D. C. in the morning. The weather has been in the mid to upper 80's but is expected to drop to the 60's with a strong chance of rain on Friday.