DAY NINE-- Saved the Best for Last

LAST DAY!!!!

Greta sat down to eat her waffle and said, "This waffle looks promising!"  

It was very good indeed

The U.S. Marine Corps Memorial -- AKA-- the Iwo Jima Memorial was really beautiful and larger than we expected.

The next visit, and the highlight of the day, was Arlington National Cemetery.  One of my friends has a contact with the Secret Service (ooooh) and was able to procure a driving pass for us.  Without one, we would have to get around on the shuttle.  Which honestly, would probably have been fine,  but it was pretty sweet to travel in our own comfy car.  

If asked what my favorite thing we did/saw on our trip was, I would immediately answer "The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier".  It was magnificent and reverent.  It was tragic and peaceful.  It was haunting and sacred.

The guards' movements are so practiced and precise.

Thankfully, all our people were very respectful and well-behaved.  But as we were walking away  we heard the guard yelling orders.  Confused, I looked up if the guards can yell at people coming to visit.  And yes-- they can shout commands (or more) if people are trespassing where they aren't supposed to or behaving disrespectfully.  We were far enough away that we didn't see why they were shouting.

The changing of the guard

"Known But to God"

Everyone agreed that the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was a very special, memorable experience.

Prior to this visit, I had not realized that Arlington National Cemetery was once the property of General Robert E. Lee.  His home was named "Arlington House".  And it's still there and you can tour it and it is stunning.  His story is quite interesting and he certainly gave up A LOT by agreeing to fight for Virginia and the South.  

Here is the view from his front porch.

And I was completely delighted by the homeschool and project room.  It was SO SO SO cute and I want to recreate it in my house!  Ahhhh!  I was dying.

In fact, I really like visiting this house because it was a less formal "tour".  You could pretty much just walk around unaccompanied at your own pace.  I mean, there were roped off areas, but it felt more relaxed than Monticello or Mount Vernon.

The Eternal Flame and JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy's tombs.

It was the perfect way to wrap up our time in D.C.

The glorious moment when you come around the bend on the Beltway and the Washington DC Temple bursts into view!  It's awesome!

This was the temple of my youth-- the first one I ever went to when I was 12 and the one I went to when I was 16 and 17

I suppose I've become accustomed to the Christus statue at the Salt Lake Temple Visitor's Centers.  I remembered this one being bigger.  No matter, it was a wonderful FINAL visit on our US History tour!

Cool pic with the reflected temple.

And then we hopped back in the car and drove back to where we started--Philadelphia.  And then we flew home on a pleasantly uneventful flight.  And then we found our parked car had a dead battery, which we promptly got jumped.  And then we drove home and gratefully and deliriously tired, fell into bed.  

WE ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS TRIP!  It was a dream come true to go visit these sites with our children and learn about and remember who we are as Americans.  And this grouping of children was particularly pleasant to travel with.  I love babies and toddlers as much as the next good-hearted mama, but man!  traveling with no babies or toddlers is pretty sweet:)