Today I think I felt “something” like what it is like to be an American. We started the day visiting the National Constitution Center ((er not re) just beside the Liberty Bell) and watched a very moving presentation, with live narration, about the history of the constitution. Following on from that, we browsed the actual museum, showing the history of America until present day. The Hall of  Statues was very impressive. Am now realising what an influential and important person Benjamin Franklin was, and yet he was never a president. We all owe him! After that on to Washington DC….WOW….. it really does have a special feel about….like being in Canberra but on a much larger scale (of course). First stop Arlington Cemetery, are the hairs up on the back of your neck? …should be! VERY, VERY moving…row after row after row of  white headstones …..we walked to the grave of JFK with Jackie beside and two deceased children, turnaround and there on the skyline, The Washington Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. Next we rode the Tourmobile to the Tombs of the unknown soldiers (WW1 , WW2 and Vietnam Wars) but the Vietnam War grave is empty as due to DNA testing he was identified. Our tourguide suggested the best place for us to watch the changing of the guard and that was really something. Wayne has the whole thing on video, so you will see that. Again, very very moving. We reboarded the tourmobile and heard the rest of the commentry…there are 3 Australians buried in Arlington. As we waited for the rest of our group we looked at the other displays , one a very interesting and tear provoking recount of the bugler at JFK’s funeral and how he “quivered” on the 6th note and now, as a mark of respect, all buglers now purposely make the same mistake. There are in fact 20-30 funerals a day at Arlington. The flag is put to halfmast , half an hour before the first funeral of the day and remains that way until half an hour after the last funeral for the day. After that we did a small drive around and checked into the hotel …then we went to dinner at a great little restaurant (had crab cakes) before going on an  “Illumination Tour”….We went to the  JFK Performing Arts Center, saw the Hall of States (flags for all states), then the Hall of Countries (flags for all countries) and went to a huge terrace to see DC by night, the monuments really have a Greek look about them, on purpose, to respect democracy.  Then on the coach for one of the most moving and breathtaking man made stuctures I have seen …. The Iwo Jima Memorial …. it is commemmorating a battle (along the lines of our Gallipoli campaign) …..but this is the flagraising that was duplicated at the Twin Towers and other significant events that call for a patriotic flag raising. The memorial was illuminated and I think that seeing it at night made it more special. So I hope you can see what I mean by feeling patriotic today, it gets to you. …And we all know, the Americans are pretty good at that. Over to himself to add to the post and organise the photos. See ya …Lorraine XXX

Just a little more, we visited a statue dedicated to the Irish, then took photos of each other doing a “Rocky” victory dance .. not on the steps of the museum as he did, but on the bank of the Delaware. The main thing was we danced in Philly 🙂 Arlington was moving, so many graves, so many lives wasted .. I left earlier than the rest, you know how these things affect me. I didn’t serve in wartime as these blokes did, but I did serve. Wayne.