Freedom is not Free

Our morning started out at Arlington National Cemetery.  While we were there we heard 4 burial ceremonies while we were watching the changing of the guard.   We were so proud of the 4 8th graders that participated in the placing of the wreath. Later they said they were nervous, but each performed their duties well.  We also saw the Kennedy grave sites, Challenger Memorial, and Discovery Memorial.

Across the way on the same property is the Marine Corp Memorial or Iwo Jima Statue. 

When we arrived we met Thomas Miller, who is a survivor of Iwo Jima and saw the raising of the flag that was captured on film and inspired this memorial.  He told us that 2 of the 6 men died 2 days later and another died 3 weeks later just before the battle ended.  It only lasted 36 days and this flag was raised on day 5.  He told us about the rumor of a 13th hand or missing leg in the statue and it was all fable.  I hoped that this trip would make history come alive.  Talking to him, while we were at the memorial did just that.  Here is a link to a Washington Post interview with him (he shared the same information with us).

Then we headed to the Newseum for lunch at the Wolf Gang Puck restaurant.  This was a real treat and we were in for a real surprise.  As it turns out, Mr. Evans went to school with the Paul, one of the cooks, and he welcomed us with a personalized cake!  Awesome!! 

Following that, we saw the Newseum, and divided up so everyone could see what they wanted.  Some went to the National Archives to see the Magna Carta from 1297 (only 1 of 4 in existance), the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.  Others went to the Holocause Museum, Natural History Museum and Washington Monument. 

Then we went to the Vietnam Memorial and Dylan found his grandfathers name on the wall.  Several others found names on the wall and copied them.

Then we went to the Lincoln Memorial.  It was breathtakingly beautiful.  Looking out from the Lincoln Memorial we could see the Washington Monument.

We then walked over to the Korean War Memorial which I found very compelling.  There are 19 soldiers (that reflect off the wall making 38 which is the parallel the war was fought on) and a wall with faces etched in it and the statement that “Freedom is not Free”.

Starting the day with Arlington Cemetery and finishing at the War Memorials that recognizes the lives that have been sacrificed to protect our freedom brought home the fact that Freedom is not Free.  We often take our freedom for granted and today was a visual reminder of that we have a lot to be grateful for.