Look Kids, the Pentagon!

Today, we awoke to a dusting of snow. Due to the forecast, everyone was reluctant to make plans to leave early that morning. We slept in a bit-a welcome respite although I was anxious to get downtown to see the monuments. Four years ago when we were here we had enjoyed a whirlwind weekend with a dear friend. When we left, we had a secondary list for when we returned with the band. The monuments were seen the first time so not really necessary this time although we had missed the Jefferson Memorial the first time too. However, I LOVE the monuments and wanted to see them again and had foregone the opportunity on  Friday when we went to the American History Museum (on our secondary list). So, I was really anxious to go again and get an early start. My normal traveling buddies and the family sharing a car with me wanted to go to the National Cathedral so I had made arrangements to ride with other friends in their 15 passenger. (Unfortunately, as it turned out, the car would have been available to me after all).  However, our band director thought leaving around 10 would give us plenty of time and he was riding in my transportation so that is what we did. We got off to a late start which is easy to do when you are filling a van with 15 people. On the way there (we decided to drive into the city versus the metro as it was a Sunday and we anticipated little traffic), we exited as the GPS directed, but we could not access Arlington National Cemetery, our first stop.  We could see it, we circled it and even received directions from the guards at the Army installation we accidentally entered with our entourage (there were other cars following us). As we drove around and around the area, unable to get into the cemetery, we kept seeing the Pentagon. It was pointed out to the van's passengers the first time, the second time, the third time, the.....You get the jist. It reminded me of the movie, "European Vacation" where they were caught in the traffic circle circling Big Ben and he kept pointing it out to his kids again and again!  "Look kids, the Pentagon!". We even stopped and asked directions from the friendly policeman with his radar gun. He told us to travel to Crystal City and turn around there-a matter of a few miles. We did, but missed our exit coming back. Each time we missed it, I thought I knew where we should go or should have gone. My friend mentioned that to the guys in the front, but at this point I was really turned around and it was pointed out to me that I had gotten lost the day before! Therefore, I was wrong.  One time lost and forever stigmatized as without direction! The only reason we were lost the day before was due to faulty GPS directions which seemed to be the problem today too! I tell you those GPS's are not infallible!
Anyway, we finally arrived at the Cemetery without any further input from me. I had learned to keep my thoughts to myself, sufficiently put in my place. :) We were able to catch a shuttle around 1045, but we were not able to see the changing of the guard as it happens on the hour and our shuttle bus stopped at the Eternal Flame for John F. Kennedy and General Lee's Arlington Home first.

Phineas (not her real name, but her request for my blog. Phineas of Phineas Fogg fame) and the Scribbler at the Eternal Flame overlooking DC at the first stop.
It was overcast and a bit cold although the snow had melted.

A brief history of Arlington House and the surrounding grounds: Grandson of Martha Washington, acquired the land that now is Arlington National Cemetery in 1802, and began construction of Arlington House. The estate was passed down to Custis' and his wife's (Mary Lee Fitzhugh Custis) only surviving adult child Mary Anna Custis Lee who was married to Robert E. Lee, a West Point graduate and United States Army officer. When Fort Sumter was forced to surrender at the beginning of the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln offered Lee command of the federal army. Lee demurred, wanting to see if his native Virginia would decide to secede.

When Virginia announced its decision, Lee resigned his commission and took command of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Virginia, later becoming commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. He quickly established himself as an able commander, defeating a series of Union generals, until his final defeat and surrender at the McLean House. Because of this decision and subsequent performance, Lee was regarded as disloyal by most Union officers. The decision was made to appropriate a portion of Arlington as a graveyard for mostly Union dead.


                                                       The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

You can tell it was a cold day as he was wearing an overcoat. I am simply amazed at his focus and his ability to remain that way! The changing of the guard is always something special too. If you can ever go for that, please do.

These following pictures were taken near Arlington House. Four years ago, we had shots taken in this exact spot so I thought it would be neat to see how the girls had grown and changed. The cherry blossoms were just beautiful, but wouldn't peak until later in the week. That is good as the frost and snow would have killed the blossoms had they all ready bloomed.

We departed Arlington Cemetery around noon to drive to Mt Vernon, my dreams of seeing the monuments on the mall gone. There would be no other time to do it as we were on our way to Williamsburg that evening.
Our drive there was fraught with some confusion about directions once again, but none of it compared to the confusion awaiting us at Mt Vernon! I tried to not think about helping out or giving my unsolicited opinion during the drive given the last remarks.

We were late and somewhat lost it seemed so phone calls started coming in regarding what to do from others who were late or lost also or what to do if there were enough to go ahead and start one of three National  Treasure Tours. We were all (74 of us) supposed to arrive no later than 1 PM for a group check in, but one group of 23 was supposed to start their National Treasure tour at 1 PM with the two other groups of 24 and 25 scheduled for 3 PM. So,everyone was touring, what harm would there be in those all ready there going ahead with the 1PM even if they were not the original ones????? Seemed pretty straightforward, huh? NOT.
One mom checked in for our group and received our tickets. She handed them out to the 23 ready to go on their NT tour, belatedly realizing, after they left, that she only had 7 tickets leftover and should have more than that. In the meantime, we arrived and rushed to the entrance. In the process, we lost about 8 or so of our group. The dilemma of the tickets was explained to me and I was assured that one group had left on their NT tour with guide in hand. We approached the ticket booth and it was explained to us that those original tickets were only for the adults within our group and NOT everyone! So, now we had children with tickets INSIDE that they didn't need and adults without tickets OUTSIDE that they did need! The booth attendant just told us to go in. We did with those there, but there were still stragglers. It was then I realized that part of the group I arrived with were not around. Because of not having our needed adult tickets, we needed to remain at the door to identify those in our group trying to get in without tickets so I began calling them to tell them to come over to get their tickets. In this midst of confusion, we found out there were not NT tickets and the meeting spot for it was located away from the front entrance so that meant that those supposedly on a NT tour, were probably on a group tour of another kind. This would mean (if they missed their 1 PM tour) that 23 of them would be showing up for their tour at 3 PM to find there was no room for them. In the midst of this, I was dealing with a disgruntled door attendant, upset that we kept asking them to allow others in our "group" into the visitor center WITHOUT their adult ticket pass. She said, "I don't know what you are doing, but they better have tickets!" Of course, they didn't and I was still missing 8 or more people. We also had two other piles of tickets that were timed entry tickets for 1:55 PM and 2:15 PM. for touring the Mt Vernon mansion. Those needed handed out to everyone including those all ready missing in action! I handed out what I could while still trying to figure out where the first group of 23 had gone, where the 8 were that were missing in action, and while requesting entrance for those still arriving without tickets while fielding phone calls as the time for the first tour rapidly approached. Finally, I explained to the group found in the restaraunt to just send a representative to get their tickets from me as I had to enter the movie and didn't know what to do with their tickets once I entered. A dear friend rounded up the missing group of 23 and got the correct ones headed in the right direction for their NT tour. In the meantime, The Scribbler and her friend, ran to the main door where the disgruntled attendant was still disgruntled to deliver the remaining tickets to the hungry group and vouch for their entrance. They had stopped to get food for one of the group feeling faint and weak. Unfortunately, they had to throw away all of their food to gain entrance. The Scribbler, from all of the confusion and chaos, returned with tears in her eyes (boy, those girls in our family sure cry alot!). Did you follow all that? I barely did when it was happening :)
Fortunately, all of us were able to calm down during the movie and the remainder of the time was uneventful for the most part. However, I didn't know that some, due to caring for the weak member, didn't get to see any of Mt Vernon, but was alone with her on a park bench and no one would relieve her from her post. I regret that I didn't know so I could have relieved her a bit.
We toured Mt Vernon and it was quite pretty. It was surprising to see that Washington had been given the key to the Bastille from the Marquis de Lafayette. It was to help him remember the French Revolution versus our relatively peaceful revolution and accomplishments. We made our National Treasure tour and were allowed to enter the cellar of Mt Vernon to see the secret passage. It was quite interesting and made me want to see the movie again. We went down to the water and had quite an extensive tour of the grounds.
We meandered around a bit, enjoying the mild weather, the veiw of the Potomac and the lovely and well kept grounds amid the historical significance. Farmer Girl decided then and there that she would live in Virginia in a home just like Mt Vernon one day!   We took some pictures on the hill on our return to the house after our tour and browsed the gift shop. I wish now that we had bought a cup and saucer to help us remember Mt Vernon.

We departed at closing and had dinner with the group at an Old Country Buffet. We were famished after skipping lunch and were well filled before heading to Richmond. The others were traveling all the way to Williamsburg, but we were staying with my traveling buddies' in-laws in a lovely Colonial home in Richmond. We had a pleasant drive there except for the time when Farmer Girl said, "I feel like I am going to throw up." Our driver, not me this time, pulled to the side of the interstate. Farmer Girl opened her car door, put her head out and between her legs. Our friends in the second car, brought up some Pepto Bismol for her to take and we got her back inside with a bag in hand and medicine in her stomach We arrived at our destination in a couple hours without further interruptions. (she slept all the way there). The ten of us settled into our rooms with our families and retired to bed with an early wake up call once again with a departure of 7 AM.  Day 5 was completed and I was exhausted. We needed a restful day to recharge, but that was not happening any time soon!