There are so many fascinating places to visit in Washington D.C. Sometime in the future, I’d like to spend a couple of weeks there just to visit various memorials, museums, and other fascinating places of national significance.
At the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C.
On June 23, 2013, on the way back from our stay in the outskirts of Washington D.C. for a training program, with limited time at our disposal, David and I made it a point to visit the World War II Memorial. Because of the speeches I am privileged to give to WWII veterans, many of whom are Honor Flight participants who visit the Memorial, it was important for me to appreciate the place for myself. It was very helpful that a Park Ranger gave us a tour of the Memorial, explaining about different parts of the Memorial and the historical background behind each of them.
“Here we mark the price of freedom”
In front of the Freedom Wall, with 4,000 gold stars which commemorate the more than 400,000 Americans who gave their lives, is an inscription which reads, “Here we mark the price of freedom.”
“Americans came to liberate, not to conquer.”
Indeed they did – as attested by my parents.
In another place, it reads, “The United States entered the Second World War in 1941 not to conquer, but to liberate a world fast falling to forces of tyranny.” Contained within this statement is profound wisdom of American leaders, which set the course of where humanity was to be headed.
David with the Jefferson Memorial in background.
The Washington Monument under repair for structural damage due to the 2011 earth quake.
