Kennedy's Flame

Two weeks before he was laid to rest here, President John Kennedy visited the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath on Armistice Day (now known as Veteran’s Day).

In a visit earlier in the year he had commented that the view from this spot on the hill before Arlington House was so magnificent that he could stay forever.

Jacqueline Kennedy requested the eternal flame, similar to the one she had seen for the French Unknown Soldier in Paris.

The Old Amphitheater, Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, USA

The Old Amphitheater was dedicated on the first Memorial Day holiday in 1868. The podium section is called the Rostrum and includes the inscription “E pluribus unum” or “Out of many, one”. The amphitheater was used for speeches and ceremonies until 1921 when the larger Memorial Amphitheater was completed.

L'Enfant's Tomb, Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia

Pierre Charles L’Enfant was born in France, trained as a painter in the Royal Academy in the Louvre, and served in King Louis XV’s court. At 23 in 1777 he was recruited to join the American Revolution. He later served with General Washington, including the brutal winter in Valley Forge.

He’s best known however for laying out the city of Washington DC.

He died in 1825, but it was not until 1909 that he was reinterred atop the hill before Arlington House, overlooking the city he helped design.

Tomb of the Unknowns, Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia

Members of the Army’s 3rd Infantry, known as the Old Guard, watch over the Tomb of the Unknowns 24 hours a day, everyday. They perform a precise walk along the mat, with their rifle held on the side of the crowd to show the they stand between the tomb and any possible threat. Here the guard is performing a shoulder-arms to make the change. They call this position “rocked out”.

Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia

First and foremost Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place for men and women who’ve served our country. It’s solemn place for reflection on sacrifice.

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Lincoln's Temple

The inscription over the famous staute of Lincoln reads “In this temple as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union the memory of Abraham Lincoln in enshrined forever”. The memorial building itself is in the form of a Greek Doric temple.

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I finally had a chance to visit a few of the covered bridges in the state of my birth. There’s only six remaining in Maryland and I visited half this morning.

Gilpin's Falls Covered Bridge

The Gilpin’s Falls Covered Bridge is a great example of why these structures are now so rare, but also why any still exist at all. It was built around 1860 and was in regular use until the 1930′s when it was bypassed for a concrete bridge. The bridge was not well maintained and in 1958 heavy snow finally collapsed the roof. The bridge was described a year later as a “skeletonized ruin”. Fortunately it was restored that same year.

Another 50 years passed and in 2010 the bridge was again restored, this time by some great folks from New Hampshire.

If you’re lucky enough to visit the bridge, be sure to check out the decking. It’s a unique system I’ve never seen before. The planks are secured in a kind of rail at the ends, but not nailed down. Many of them spring up and down as you walk on them. An internat acquaintance of mine was among those doing the recent restoration and has this to say about it – http://bridgewright.wordpress.com/2011/05/20/11/ .

For free interactive maps of all the covered bridges in Maryland and the rest of the United States visit coveredbridgemap.com.

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Nash Hood Ornament

While out running errands I stumbled across a small car show, including this little beauty. I’m pretty sure this was a Nash, but if you know better please leave a comment.

Nash Hood Ornament

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