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June 11, 2001 |
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Washington D.C.: A blast from the past |
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����������� Who ever said Washington D.C. is boring?� I did, until I went on vacation there with my family.� I thought Washington D.C. was a lot of boring buildings with papers from forever ago on the wall.� Well, there are a lot of buildings, museums, and monuments, but none are boring.� Some of my favorite places are the Arlington National Cemetery, The Holocaust museum and some of the Smithsonian museums, and the Vietnam Memorial Wall.�� |
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����������� When I was first told that we were going to visit the Arlington Cemetery, I was not happy.� I kept begging my mom to go somewhere else.� She told me no, and told me this was going to be a fun trip.� I did not know a cemetery, with a lot of people who had past away, could be so informative and exciting.� Arlington Cemetery is not just a cemetery, but contains the home of Robert E. Lee.� The Arlington Cemetery is where John F. Kennedy is buried, in a site marked by the eternal flame, and near by is the "tomb of the unknown soldiers" from the Korean War and World War II.� The changing of the guards in front of the unknown soldiers was the best and most exciting part of the Arlington tour.� While the guards are changing, everyone must remain quiet and still.� This change happens every couple of hours all day and all night.� These unknown soldiers are guarded as a form of respect for everything they did for their country.� |
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����������� Of course, what would a trip to D.C. be without seeing the greatest museums in America?� My Favorite museum is the Holocaust Museum.� I cried the entire time I walked through the museum.� I really felt bad about what happen to all of those poor, innocent Jews.� One part of the museum that really got me upset was the little town that was built in the museum. It looks happy on the outside, and as I walk in all I hear is little kids laughing, playing and running around.� However, when I looked around there was nothing there.� It was meant to show people how the town was after everyone was taken away.� There was no happiness and no laughter.� I also remember crying as I walked through the room with all of the shoes.� When the Germans gathered all of the Jewish prisoners, they took all of their clothes and belongings.� When I walked through the room all I could smell was leather and I saw shoes that belonged to babies.� I know those poor children did not live very long.� |
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����������� The other exciting museums are the Smithsonian museums.� There are nine located around the National Mall.� The National Mall is the grass field located in the center of all of the museums.� It is hard to visit all of the Smithsonian museums in one trip, but they are worth going back to D.C. for.� James Smithson said he wanted the Smithsonian Museums to be "An establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men."� He was right.� The Smithsonian Museums are broken down to educate everyone about everything in the U.S.� Each category has its own museum.� Black history is in one museum.� National Archives is in another museum.� This way you are not over loading on too much information.� |
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����������� Even though the monuments may not be as exciting as the museums, they are still breath taking and full of information.� My favorite monument was the Vietnam Memorial.� I could not even image how many people died for my country, in the Vietnam War, until I saw all of their names on the wall.� It is a beautiful, black marble wall.� It starts on one side with a long list of names, and as you walk to the other end, it gets down to one name.� When I was looking at the wall, I could not help but to look for someone I may be related to.� Other amazing monuments to visit are The Washington Monument, the Reflection Pool and The Lincoln Memorial.� |
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����������� Many young adults, such as myself, may not enjoy history and where they come from, but I am very sure they would enjoy this trip.� Seeing the Arlington National Cemetery, and all of the museums was long and tiresome, but worth it.� |
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Works Cited |
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Smithson, James.� "Smithsonian Institution."� The District.� 1996-1999. |
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<http:/www.thedistrict.com/thingsto/tourism/museums/smithson.htm> |
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