Day One, Thursday, September 24
7:30am
Breakfast
at the hotel.
8:30am
Depart on
motor coaches (meet your guide at pre-arranged location).
Stop at the
National World War II Memorial.
This memorial honors the 16 million who served in
the armed forces of the U.S. during World War II; the more than
400,000 who died, and the millions who supported the war effort from
home. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the
memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of
the American people to the common defense of the nation and to the
broader causes of peace and freedom from tyranny throughout the
world.
Stop at
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
This privately funded memorial has drawn millions
who have come to touch the over 50,000 names, make pencil rubbings
and leave flowers, letters, flags and personal mementos.
Stop at
The Lincoln Memorial.
Overlooking the Reflecting Pool, was patterned on a
classic Greek temple. Inside, inscriptions from his Gettysburg
Address and Second inaugural Address flank the 19-foot marble statue
of our 16th President.
Stop at
The Korean War Veterans
Memorial.
The triangular field contains nineteen ground
troopers, clad in foul weather ponchos, fully equipped for battle.
Representing those who supported the ground troops are hundreds of
faces etched on a polished granite wall. These 19 soldiers when
reflected off the granite wall represents 38 soldiers corresponding
to the 38th parallel in Korea.
11:15am
Take
coach to Smithsonian Museum drop off location.
11:30am Enjoy
lunch on your own in
one of the many museum cafés -There are also many nearby restaurants
and cafés in Penn Quarter, a revitalized arts and entertainment
district with new restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, museums, theaters
and trendy stores.
After Lunch you can (
on
foot) visit your choice of the
Smithsonian Institution’s museums on the National Mall.
***OPTIONAL - FOR THOSE WHO THINK THE DAY WILL BE
TOO LONG! THERE WILL BE A 2:30 BUS TO RETURN TO THE HOTEL!***
PLEASE BE ADVISED
T
HE
SMITHSONIAN
INSTITUTION’S
SECURITY POLICY IS: ALL
BAGS,
PURSES,
ATTACHES,
SHOPPING BAGS SATCHELS,
SUITCASES,
ETC.,
WILL BE HAND SEARCHED.
TO EXPEDITE THIS PLEASE
BRING ONLY A SMALL PURSE OR FANNY PACK.
BACKPACKS,
DAYPACKS OR LUGGAGE WILL
NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE MUSEUMS.
MOST LOCKER ROOMS HAVE BEEN
CLOSED. DO NOT
BRING SHARP ITEMS INTO THE MUSEUMS,
SUCH AS KNIVES
(INCLUDING
POCKET),
SCREWDRIVERS,
CORKSCREWS,
SCISSORS,
ETC UNLESS YOU LIKE PUTTING
UP WITH SECURITY HASSLE!
A
DMISSION IS FREE
OF CHARGE AT ALL
SMITHSONIAN
MUSEUMS.
National Air & Space Museum
.
Experience the history of flight at one of the
world’s most visited museum, from the plane flown by the Wright
brothers to the Apollo 11 command module. This Museum features an
incredible collection of aviation and space technology treasures
.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
.
This donut-shaped building boasts a collection of
19th and 20th century paintings and sculptures.
National Museum of African Art
This is the only museum in the United States
dedicated exclusively to the collection, exhibition and study of the
traditional arts of sub-Saharan Africa.
National Museum of American History.
The new central atrium with skylights dramatically
opening the building. A grand staircase connects the 1st and second
floors. Galleries with over 3 million objects including new
galleries and exhibitions never displayed before. A special
state-of-the-art gallery displaying the
original Star Spangled Banner. This
very popular collection tops the list of must-sees for any visitor
with a taste for true Americana. See the flag that inspired
the Star Spangled Banner, Dorothy’s Ruby Red Slippers, First Ladies’
inaugural gowns, quilts, cars, locomotives, and much, much more.
National Museum of Natural History
.
The Hope Diamond and dinosaur fossils and the
world’s largest African bush elephant top the amazing natural
treasures on display along with a live insect zoo.
National Museum of the American Indian
Experience something of a unique nature and
welcoming spirit of this museum. From the American Southwest,
Hawaii, Canada, South and Central America you will feel the spirit
of these native people. See items from the great American pyramid
builders to the beautiful craftsmanship of the North, Certral and
South America’s indigenous people
.
National Gallery of Art
Houses an outstanding collection of masterpieces
that trace the development of Western art from the Middle Ages to
the present. The original
West Building
concentrates primarily on
European works from the 13th century, while its contemporary
counterpart, the East Building,
highlights works of modern artists. James McNeil Whistler’s
“Peacock Room” highlights the Freer
Gallery of Art, world-renown
collection of Asian, and 19th and early 20th century American art.
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
This is an international collection features
masterpieces of Asian and Near Eastern art from the beginning of
civilizationto the present.
Be back at the departure point by 4:30 for return to
hotel.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Two, Friday, September 25
7:30am
Breakfast at the
hotel
8:30am
Depart on motor
coach (Meet your Guide at pre-arranged location).
9:30am visit
Arlington
National Cemetery.
Here we will witness the changing of the guard at
the Tomb of the Unknowns. No land in America is more sacred
than this square mile. It is America’s shrine to valor and
sacrifice. This is the final resting place for President John F.
Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Robert F. Kennedy, Edward Moore
(Ted) Kennedy, Audie Murphy, prize fighter Joe Louis, and thousands
of soldiers from every major U.S. war. The Cemetery is the former
plantation and home of Civil War General Robert E. Lee’s Arlington
House, Space Shuttle Challenger Astronauts’ Memorial, and Monuments
to nearly every major sacrifice that affected our country are
located within these 612 acres. The Tomb of the Unknowns speaks of a
nation’s debt to the many whose ultimate sacrifice helped make a
nation free.
Arlington averages 27 funerals a day. The crews,
service members, and grounds keepers follow an elaborate
choreography to ensure that each funeral feels like it is the only
one taking place.
12:00 pm
Visit the
Naval Memorial
on Pennsylvania Avenue and
take part in a wreath-laying ceremony.
Lunch: Box (included with fee) lunches at the Navy
Memorial.
1:30pm
Arrive at
Garfield Statue
on the West Front of Capitol
Hill.
***OPTIONAL _ FOR THOSE WHO THINK THE DAY WILL BE
TOO LONG! THERE WILL BE A 2:00 BUS TO RETURN TO THE HOTEL!***
2:00pm Arrive at the
Capitol Visitor Center on
Capitol Hill.
Security check points are located at the front of
the building and groups will be subject to high security procedures
.
The Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) welcomes visitors
to the seat of American government. At nearly 580,000 square feet,
the CVC is the largest project in the Capitol’s 215-year history and
is approximately three quarters the size of the Capitol itself.
The entire facility is located underground on the east side of the
Capitol so as not to detract from the appearance of the Capitol.
Features include an exhibition gallery highlighting the House &
Senate while in-session, orientation theaters, a 550-seat cafeteria,
gift shops, and restrooms all within a secure public environment
that will provide visitors shelter from the unpredictable D.C.
weather.
2:20pm
Tour the United States Capitol
The most recognized symbol of democratic government
in the world, the U.S. Capitol has housed Congress since 1800 and is
one of the most imposing public buildings in the world. The Capitol
is where Congress meets to write the laws of our nation, and where
presidents are inaugurated. Its ceilings are decorated with historic
images, and its halls are lined with statuary and paintings
representing great events and people in the nation’s history.
Group must arrive twenty minutes prior to tour time to complete the
required security and screening process. The tour of the historic
Capitol building is a walking tour, so please wear comfortable
shoes. Escalators and elevators are located near the public
stairways. Groups must present the Reservation Confirmation at
the registration desk in order to receive tour passes.
3:20pm
Visit the United States Library of Congress.
Explore. Discover. Be Inspired! Established as an
act of Congress is 1800, The Library of Congress is the largest
national library in the world with more than 100 million items in
three buildings. The original Library of Congress Building (now
called the Thomas Jefferson Building) is perhaps Washington’s most
richly ornamented building. If for any reason an inside tour is not
available or the wait in line is extremely long your guide will
conduct a tour outside the buildings.
4:20pm
Photo opportunity of the Supreme Court Building
.
Within the walls of this white marble monument the
third branch of government exercises its mandate to protect and
interpret the spirit of the Constitution.
4:30pm Depart for hotel
5:45pm Arrive at Sheraton-Reston
From Andy Braddick, one of our local reunion
coordinators: Hi All, It may be worth a note that there is a
kiosk at the WWII memorial where you can look up the names of any
relative who served in WWII. I did and it was a thrill to see the
names of my 3 uncles.
Also, My last 2 cents: The Cold War Museum at
the Navy Yard has a pretty good run down of the Viet Nam War. It is
open 7 days a week from 1000-1700. It is next door to the Navy
Museum that has a very fine display of Navy History. We can
get a guide to show us around. More info at:
http://www.navyhistory.org/navy-museum/cold-war-gallery/
Enjoy Washington, Andy B.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Three, Saturday, September 26
7:30am
B
reakfast
at the hotel
8:30am
Depart on (Meet your Guide at pre-arranged
location).
9:30am
Stop for a photo opportunity of The White House.
Take a walking tour through Lafayette Park
originally called "President's Park." Lafayette Park has been used
as a racetrack, a graveyard, a zoo, a slave market, an encampment
for soldiers during the War of 1812, and many political protests and
celebrations. Andrew Jackson Downing landscaped Lafayette Park
in 1851 in the picturesque style. Today's plan, with its five large
statues, dates from the 1930s. In the center stands Clark Mills'
equestrian statue of President Andrew Jackson, erected in 1853. In
the four corners are statues of foreign Revolutionary War heroes:
the Marquis de Lafayette and Comte de Rochambeau of France, Tadeusz
Kościuszko of Poland, and the Baron von Steuben of Prussia.
10:30am
Visit the National Archives.
The spacious rotunda of the National Archives
contains the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and
the Bill of Rights. For the first time in modern history, all
the pages of these documents are on display to the public. All
the displays have been made accessible for viewing by individuals in
wheel chairs and children.
12:30pm
Depart for hotel.
1:00pm
On way to hotel
- option to drive by or stop at the Marine
Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Statue). One of the largest bronze
statues ever cast depicts the American Flag being raised on Mount
Suribachi during World War II and commemorates all Marines who have
died in battle since 1775. The views of Washington from this
memorial are spectacular.
1:30pm Depart for hotel
2:30pm Arrive Sheraton-Reston
Time to relax for a while and get ready for the banquet.