Where can you see a tribute to war heroes, all fifty states, and every US commonwealth in one place complete with poetic inscriptions and a beautiful fountain and pool? If you can't answer that, then my title was not quite as obvious and unoriginal as I had thought.
The National World War II Memorial is just that comprehensive. In aerial pictures you can see that its round design is beautifully situated at the end of the rectangular reflective pool and between that and the Washington Monument (that tall, obelisk-shaped monument featured earlier on the blog), therefore making it one of the many must-see attractions on the National Mall and perfect for Washington D.C. educational tours.
Each detail of this memorial was thoughtfully planned and carried out. From its prominent position (poignantly described in the inscription quoted below) to the inclusion of the states and commonwealths, the Freedom Wall, and even an engraved kilroy, a famous doodle with innumerable legends as to its origin but which came to be known as a symbol for our GI's in the War.
The inscription for the Memorial says it all:
Here in the presence of Washington and Lincoln, one the eighteenth century father and one the nineteenth century preserver of our nation, we honor those twentieth century Americans who took up the struggle during the second World War and made the sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us: A nation conceived in liberty and justice.
That's not a partisan slogan to support a controversial war. They are the words inscribed on a granite wall that is part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial. They are the simple fact that remained when the conflict was over and American lives lost were finally remembered in a national memorial in Washington D.C.
It moves me in these election days, when tempers flare and differences sever our united front to an almost irrepairable degree, that sometimes we have been able to come together and accomplish something great.
The Korean War Veteran's Memorial took years to accomplish. Its position was debated and argued over. Its significance fought for and its right to stand in a place of prominence among other historical treasures, a heated cause. But it happened. It was beautifully designed with great meaning poured into every detail. It was built over a three-year period and finally dedicated in 1995. And the family members of those it represents, rejoiced.
Educational tours were made for lessons like these. Not just lessons in history, but in the spirit of America that struggles and argues its way through troubling times but stands together in the end. Not just in government, but in the principles behind our government and the power of the people we've been so freely given.
Washington D.C. is the perfect environment for educational tours. And the war memorials that grace its mall are the perfect backdrop for learning.
Today we find ourselves in the midst of a war many have compared to Vietnam. At the very least, it seems to be similarly polarizing our country as to its efficacy and purpose. There is one thing we can all agree, and that is in our devotion, our pride, and our deep respect for those who carry our colors directly into the line of fire day in and day out in support of their country.
There was so much controversy surrounding the Vietnam War, just as there is today. It is a symbol of the American ability to come together at last and on the important issues, that a memorial was chosen and built in such a prominent position in our nation's capital.
Commonly called simply the Vietnam Wall, this site is an absolute must for Washington D.C. educational tours. It is beautifully situated near the other war memorials and presidential monuments. It is a moving experience and one that students today will be able to relate to more than ever before, sparking conversation about the history surrounding the Vietnam War and perhaps even current events.
In the video below, you can see some of the beautiful varied aspects of the memorial itself, but nothing can compare to actually being there.
The Washington D.C. memorial dedicated to Abraham Lincoln is perhaps the most familiar of all the presidential monuments. Inscribed on the penny and the 5-dollar bill, this memorial is at least the most duplicated.
Lincoln's memorial was designed like a Greek temple. Our nation's leaders were students of the Age of Enlightenment and fascinated by neoclassic design. Lincoln's thoughtful, seated position was also chosen to represent his reflective nature.
The memorial pays tribute through murals to Lincoln's efforts toward unity and the end of slavery. His own words are inscribed as well with his second inaugural address on one side and the Gettysburg address on the other.
Ironically, the Gettysburg Address specifically states that men will not long remember what was said on the battlefield that day. And yet it remains inscribed in stone forever. Another point of Lincoln's speech, however, was that hopefully its hearers would carry on the task of maintaining the good and noble principles of the country our forefathers founded.
The Lincoln Memorial is an important addition to Washington D.C. educational tours. And when students view this monument with its prominent figure and inscriptions, it is the hope of its designers that they will be inspired to reflect on those principles, further believe in them, and be willing to take on the task.
Thomas Jefferson's memorial in Washington D.C. is a celebration not just of one man, nor just of his own words, but of the high ideals and reflective nature of our country's founders as a whole.
It was the Age of Enlightenment. Jefferson's pose for the interior statue is one of a man pondering the human experience of his day as well as his hopes for the future. Along with the other forefathers, Thomas Jefferson sought an end to human injustice at least at the hand of its government. They wanted to build a union in which the pursuit of happiness was not only allowed but encouraged within the framework of a thoughtful government.
Our country still had many troubling days ahead in which the fight for human justice may have seemed forgotten. But Jefferson himself was prepared for these new ages of enlightenment and changes that might then need to occur. "But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind," he stated. His writings prepared for days like the ones in which we finally divorced ourselves from human slavery and eventually grew still further in our embracing of civil rights. "Institutions," he said, "must advance also to keep pace with the times."
The Jefferson Memorial was designed to inspire and allow similar reflection in its visitors. Through educational tours to this memorial, students will be encouraged to study Jefferson's words and further understand the principles and ideals on which our country was founded. Hopefully they will be moved by the intense thought behind our government and its constitution. Perhaps they will see things in it and in its founders they have never seen before.
Washington D.C. is getting a lot of attention these days. The whole world notices the race currently in progress to see who might get to take up residence in the famous city next year. It is synonymous with our presidency and our government, and it is the most popular city for students every single year.
If Washington D.C. is known for anything, besides the White House and Capitol Hill, it has to be its many presidential monuments. Most of them are located on the National Mall. They are all unique in design, but perhaps none quite so unique as the monument dedicated to our first president, George Washington.
He is called the father of our nation, the most influential player in our country's independence and the forming of our truly amazing democracy. The designers of this monument felt it needed to reflect that unequaled role. And to this day, the Washington Monument is the tallest structure in Washington D.C. and the tallest wholly stone structure in the world.
The observation level in this amazing landmark is 500 feet from the level of the lobby. Its visibility on clear days is 40 to 50 miles. Around the base of the monument, as you can see in this picture by NCinDC on Flickr, stand 50 flags, one for each state in the union.
Washington D.C. educational tours would be incomplete without touring the monuments for which the city is famous. And the Washington Monument is certainly the most famous of all. The National Mall is a Washington D.C. treasure with its beautiful reflecting pool and this and many other memorials. It is a must-see experience for any D.C. tour.
The Washington D.C. memorial dedicated to Abraham Lincoln is perhaps the most familiar of all the presidential monuments. Inscribed on the penny and the 5-dollar bill, this memorial is at least the most duplicated.
Thomas Jefferson's memorial in Washington D.C. is a celebration not just of one man, nor just of his own words, but of the high ideals and reflective nature of our country's founders as a whole.
