D.C. Trip Day 3

After a few non-walking related activities on Saturday we were pretty ambitious about how much we could walk Sunday... plus we (and when I say we I mean Jim) were a little more familiar with the Metro.

Our first stop was Arlington National Cemetery

Painting in the visitors center.

JFK's memorial... it may have been the most quiet that group of teenagers that was wondering around near us was the entire day....

The view from here back toward the city was beautiful.

Arlington National Cemetery was the home of Robert E. Lee and was taken over by the Union after he turned down the job of commanding the Union troops and led the Confederate troops instead. The first soldiers were actually buried there with the intention of offending Robert E. Lee and were buried around his garden.

RFK's burial site.

View from Lee's front porch. It may have looked a little different back then... not sure but maybe.

Next we wondered around until we found the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers where we watched the changing of the guard.

We also got to watch two wreath laying ceremonies... including one done by Boy Scouts from Charleston, SC. The most touching part to me was hearing that same soldier who had given the command of silence and respect during the ceremonies give the Boy Scouts direction, a totally different tone.

Then however the Italian Minister of Defense had a wreath laying ceremony.... in which he 1) Did not understand the meaning of the phrase "Please put both hands on the wreath (at least 6 times) 2) Did not salute or cover his heart during the playing of taps. AND his military personnel there to watch the ceremony not so nicely pushed the adorable Boy Scouts out of their front row standing place before their wreath was even removed. Boo to those Italians.

Over the archway there was an inscription that says,

"We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain."

We took the Metro back up near the mall where we ate lunch and then went to the Air & Space Museum (Smithsonian). It was the most child friendly museum that we went to that weekend with lots of interactive displays and even one whole display that was geared toward children exploring (we may have played in there for a little while).

Medals all won by one man in WWII.

We then made our way toward the National Archives in hopes that the line would be much shorter (and that they wouldn't take away my water bottle). We did not get pictures of the outside and they were not allowed on the inside. We got to see the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.

 Here I should mention that by this point we had been through just about as many gift shops as we had sites we had seen and I had yet to find a souvenir that I wanted. Jim had already acquired several small items and was concerned that I was going to go home with nothing and be disappointed. But I reassured him that when I found what I wanted I would be sure and maybe rather than several small items I would find one large souvenir.

We also walked past the Naval Memorial

The Verizon Center, the Fallen Police Officer Memorial,

the National Portrait Gallery,

 and the Spy Museum in our quest to find... can you guess?

A Fire Station. Jim happens to work with several people who used to work in and around the D.C. area who gave us a lot of hints on planning our trip. We (again I mean Jim) talked to one of the Firemen who worked here for quite some time and left with a D.C. Fire t-shirt.

After that we decided to ride just a little further to see Union Station so I could check one more item off my "To See" list.... once there we decided to take advantage of this stop and get dinner instead of stopping at Chipotle on the way back to our hotel again.

We also got to see the Postal Museum just across the way while at Union Station. Again by the time we got to the Metro stop in Rosslyn our poor feet resisted the little uphill walk toward the hotel.

With only one day and A LOT of important sites left to see Monday would be busy.

HCFR Awards Banquet 2011

A few weeks ago Jim and I attended the HCFR Awards Banquet. I have not had the opportunity to attend one since we have been here. They took the time to honor those who had gone above and beyond. It was very heartwarming to hear the stories as often we hear only negative. They also gave out the Stork Award and Phoenix Award. The first for those who delivered a child and the second for those that brought someone back who had been dead in which the patient was discharged from the hospital alive. I am happy to report there were several Stork Awards and MANY MANY Phoenix Awards. While no one wants to need such services it is reassuring to know that so many lives were saved.

Jim received a pin for becoming a part of the Tactical Medic program.

The members of  Team Horry received the Unit Citation award for representing HCFR in both performance and community service throughout the 2010 season. The individuals and relay teams placed well at the Scott World Firefighter Combat Challenge which was held here at Broadway at the Beach this past November and will be held here again in 2011.

Our good friend Mike Fitzgerald was awarded Firefighter of the Year!

 Michael Medeiros who is the captain of Team Horry received the Administrative Officer of the Year Award. 

 Timothy Rainbolt received the Officer of the Year Award

 

Afterward there was food and refreshments and socializing (which means the firemen talked fire). I look forward to attending these again in the future.

Click HERE to  see what the criteria are for receiving awards.

Team Horry

      It is that time again, my husband is a health food obsessed, work out crazed, pain and soreness ridden, only one topic to discuss Firefighter Combat Challenge team member.  I had briefly forgotten all the time and effort it involved...practices that started at 2 hours per day and became 3 or 4 hours closer to the world competition in Vegas last November, the inability to find a suitable cuddling position that did not induce pain due to soreness (I couldn't begin to count my lectures on ways to alleviate lactic acid build up). There are so many things I could complain about but after the first competition in Monroe, NC last year I understood. Well not completely but enough.

     I was fortunate enough to be able to take the three hour journey to the middle of nowhere NC with another firefighter wife & their daughter. What we thought was going to be a two and a half hour trip turned out to be three hours, not ideal with a toddler on board and a dying dvd player (honestly she was grumpy but I couldn't blame her I was done with it too) .  Oddly enough when it started raining the toddler was totally happy to talk about everything it was raining on, believe me I took notes for when we have toddlers on road trips. The next day we went to the course to watch the guys and sat through humid beating sun (there was no available shade) mixed with sudden down pours and avoiding red ants. The Team Horry guys did great and we were amazed to see the times of the teams get faster and faster as the day progressed. While it wasn't the most exciting trip I have ever taken, it was fun to get to see the guys compete & win!  There were several more competitions throughout the year. One here in MB which was great since there was no travel time. Another out of state where Team Horry won the team award and placed first, second, and third in the individual times (J won third). Then it was time for them to go to Vegas for the world competition. Unfortunately due to planning and paying for  a wedding I was unable to attend this year & J was gone for nine days! When J called he always had a lot of stories about who he'd met and what they had done. It was difficult for me to not be able to watch and see how he did and know immediately. Team Horry placed 9th... IN THE WORLD! :) 

     J took some time off with planning the wedding this year, which was quite the blessing because I think I would have lost my mind otherwise. He's back to practicing with the team again and although I remember the frustrations it's hard to not be excited for him. He has such fun going to practice and killer workouts, taunting each other, and the competitive spirit of the team. This year the world competition will be here in Myrtle Beach so I  won't miss out, although I am a little bummed I don't have a good excuse to go to Vegas. I may be a little biased but I think MB is the perfect place for worlds. I hope to be able to go to all of his competitions this year & hopefully celebrate a lot more wins!